Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Hammerer.
The value of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) produced against renal, bladder and prostate cancer antigens is demonstrated. These mAb allow a molecular classification of urological cancers as well as therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment. Anti-T-cell mAb can also be used in cellular rejection of kidney transplants.
Our treatment of acute renal cellular rejection in patients on ciclosporin (cyclosporin A) involves the almost complete elimination of T cells (according to individual T cell monitoring in peripheral blood) through antithymocyte globulin (ATG) therapy. We present here the results of treatment of 44 histologically or cytologically proven acute rejection episodes in 33 of 62 consecutive renal transplantation patients. ATG therapy resulted in a 95.5% success rate when duration and dosage were individually adjusted according to T cell elimination in peripheral blood. Only two grafts were lost, both because of vascular occlusions. In neither case could it be clarified whether the loss was due to primary vascular lesions or the result of severe rejection or side effects of ATG. Our data show that the elimination of primed T cells with ATG permits the use of ciclosporin even in the presence of an established immune response.
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BACKGROUND: Angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 are antagonist angiogenic factors acting via the same receptor Tie-2. Their role in prostate carcinoma (PCa) is not known. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, localization of angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and their receptor Tie-2 was studied in normal human prostate and PCa. RESULTS: Few epithelial cells of normal prostate expressed angiopoietin-1 and Tie-2 but not angiopoietin-2. Normal prostate blood vessels were negative. In PCa, intraductal grown tumor cells showed angiopoietin-1 but not angiopoietin-2. Blood vessels close to the ducts and some apical tumor cells expressed angiopoietin-1 and Tie-2. In glandular PCa, most of the tumor and intraglandular stromal cells were positive for both angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2. Angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 were also found in tumor capillaries. Additionally, angiopoietin-2 was expressed in smooth muscle cells of intratumoral blood vessels which also exhibited Tie-2. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented indicate a role of angiopoietin-Tie-2 system, particularly of angiopoietin-2 in the vascularization of PCa.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was the longitudinal comparison of % f-PSA in patients before radical prostatectomy and after PSA relapse. Is % f-PSA a consistent tumor specific parameter or does this ratio change during untreated tumor progression? MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study 41 out of 420 patients with untreated increasing PSA-progression (> 0.5 ng/ml) were analysed. Patients with neoadjuvant or adjuvant hormonal therapy were excluded. T-PSA were f-PSA were analyzed by Immulite DPC (Diagnostic Products Coop., CA) and Abbott Axsym (Abbott Park, Il, USA). RESULTS: Pre-operative % f-PSA ratio was 10.6% (range 4.6-22%; Std. dev.: 4.9); T-PSA concentration was 26.4 ng/ml (range 5.5-10.2 ng/ml Std. dev.: 20.3). In men with PSA relapse after radical prostatectomy % f-PSA ratio was 14.73% (range 2.2-4.5% Std. dev.: 9.7). Repeated post-operative % f-PSA measurements resulted in 12.94% f-PSA (range 2.7-3.8% Std. dev.: 9.9%) with a regression of R = 0.57. All men with pre-operative elevated % f-PSA (> 15%) had post-operative elevated % f-PSA. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicates that post-operative % f-PSA is a constant tumor specific parameter in men with untreated PSA relapse after radical prostatectomy. Post-operative % f-PSA was higher compared with pre-operative % f-PSA concentrations. No correlation with Gleason score or pathological stage was found.