Biomedical subjects

T M Chu

Publications and source records attributed to T M Chu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Enhancement of protein kinase C in murine lymphokine-activated killer cells by retinoic acid.

We previously reported that retinoic acid (RA) augmented mouse (BALB/c) lymphokine (interleukin-2)-activated killer (LAK) cell activity in a dose and time dependent manner. As evidence available has suggested the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of cell mediated cytotoxicity, the present work was to investigate whether or not PKC may mediate the enhancement of LAK cell activity by RA. Accompanied with an augmented LAK cell activity, RA increased total PKC enzyme activity, [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding activity, and the amount of immunoreactive PKC. A prolonged treatment (18 h) of LAK cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate resulted in the loss of both PKC and LAK cell activity. PKC inhibitors, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine dihydrochloride and staurosporine, also drastically reduced LAK cell activity. Although most of the total PKC activity (97%) was detected in the cytosol fraction, the increase in PKC activity was attributed to an increased enzyme activity in both cytosol and membrane fractions, and shown to be RA dose-dependent. Kinetics study revealed that the increase in PKC was a time-dependent process and the enhancement was detectable as early as 8 h after the addition of RA to LAK cell culture. By immunoblotting, the cytosol PKC of LAK cells was shown to contain alpha and beta isoforms, but not gamma. RA further increased the expression of PKC alpha. The enhanced expression of alpha isozyme of PKC by RA was also in a dose and time dependent manner. Taken together, these results indicate that the mechanism of the augmentation of LAK cell activity by RA may in part result from the increase in PKC, especially PKC alpha isozyme.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

A lumped parameter mathematical model of the splanchnic circulation.

A lumped parameter mathematical model to describe the propulsion of blood in the splanchnic circulation was developed by integrating the principles of mechanics and physiology. A set of governing equations by derived by specifically considering the contractility of the portal vein, hepatic vein, liver sinusoids, and of the draining lymphatics. These equations were then simulated on a computer. The present simulation results substantiate previous experimental observations that hepatic venous pressure leads to portal hypertension and increased liver interstitial fluid volume.

Blood Pressure↗

PubMed1992

Enhanced cell-mediated cytotoxicity by interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 against syngeneic murine mammary adenocarcinoma.

The effect of murine recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on cell-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells in vitro and in vivo was investigated using a spontaneously developed, weakly immunogenic, syngeneic murine mammary adenocarcinoma, designated JC, as the target. Preincubation of JC tumor cells with IFN-gamma increased the susceptibility of lysis by both cytotoxic T lymphocytes and interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced lymphokine-activated killer cells in an IFN-gamma dose-dependent manner. A direct injection of IFN-gamma (10,0000 U/d) daily for 5 consecutive days into the JC tumor nodule on the backs of BALB/c mice reduced the tumor growth in comparison with that of the control group. This antitumor activity was further enhanced by combination with a simultaneous intraperitoneal injection of IL-2 (300,000 IU/d) daily for 5 consecutive days. Phenotypic examination of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes after injection of IFN-gamma plus IL-1 revealed an increased percentage of the cells expressing asialo GM1, L3T4, and IL-2 receptors. Additionally, an enhanced expression of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules on the JC tumor cells was detected. These results indicated that a direct injection of IFN-gamma into the tumor accompanied with the administration of IL-2, by enhancing cell-mediated immunity of the hosts and expression of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens on target cells, will be of potential clinical value.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1991

Differential hydration of dA.dT base pairing and dA and dT bulges in deoxyoligonucleotides.

The role of water in the formation of stable duplexes of nucleic acids is being studied by determining the concurrent volume change, heats, and counterion uptake that accompany the duplexation process. The variability of the volume contraction that we have observed in the formation of a variety of homoduplexes suggests that sequence and conformation acutely affect the degree of hydration. We have used a combination of densimetric and calorimetric techniques to measure the change in volume and enthalpy resulting from the mixing of two complementary strands to form (a) fully paired duplexes with 10 or 11 base pairs and (b) bulged decameric duplexes with an extra dA or dT unmatched residue. We also monitored absorbance vs temperature profiles as a function of strand and salt concentration for all four duplexes. Relative to the decamer duplex, insertion of an extra dA.dT base pair to form an undecamer duplex results in a favorable enthalpy of -5.6 kcal/mol that is nearly compensated by an unfavorable entropy term of -5.1 kcal/mol. This enthalpy difference correlates with a differential uptake of water molecules, corresponding to an additional hydration of 16 mol of water molecules/mol of base pair. Relative to the fully paired duplexes, both bulged duplexes are 12-16 degrees C less stable and exhibit marginally larger counterion uptake on forming the duplex. The enthalpy change is slightly lower for the T-bulge duplex and less still for the A-bulge duplex. The volume change results indicate that an unmatched residue increases the amount of coulombic and/or structural hydration. The combined results strongly suggest that the destabilizing forces in bulged duplexes are partially compensated by an increase in hydration levels.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Homodimer and heterodimer subunits of human prostate acid phosphatase.

Human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) isoenzymes, designated PAP-A and PAP-B, were isolated from human seminal plasma by sequential affinity chromatography on concanavalin A and L(+)-tartrate, a classic inhibitor of PAP. Both the major PAP-A and the minor PAP-B isoenzymes exhibited a similar molecular mass (100 and 105 kDa respectively), multiple pI values (5.05-5.35 and 5.05-5.12), and substrate and inhibitor specificity. Immunological characterization revealed that PAP-B possesses distinct antigenic determinants, in addition to the common sites shared with PAP-A. SDS/PAGE indicated that both isoenzymes are composed of two subunits of 50 kDa each. At high salt concentration, PAP-B dissociated completely into single subunits of 50 kDa, whereas PAP-A remained intact at 100 kDa. PAP-B was resolved by reverse-phase h.p.l.c. into three components, designated alpha, beta and gamma, each of 50 kDa, at a molar ratio of approx. 2:1:1. PAP-A contained a single component of molecular mass 50 kDa. The single component of PAP-A and the alpha component of PAP-B possessed identical amino acid compositions and N-terminal sequences, which were different from those of the beta and gamma components. These results indicate that human PAP contains three isoforms, alpha 2, alpha beta and alpha gamma. PAP-A, the major isoenzyme, is a homodimer consisting of two identical subunits (alpha 2), and PAP-B, the minor isoenzyme, is a mixture of two heterodimers, consisting of non-identical subunits (alpha beta and alpha gamma).

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1991

Endogenous protein substrates for prostatic acid phosphatase in human prostate.

In order to identify the endogenous phosphoprotein substrates for human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), cellular proteins of human normal, benign, and malignant prostatic tissues as well as carcinoma cell lines were phosphorylated by the cellular kinases in the presence of (gamma-32P)-ATP and then were subjected to dephosphorylation reaction by PAP. Of several endogenous phosphoproteins, PAP preferentially dephosphorylated a cytosolic protein of Mr 83 kDa. The dephosphorylation of the 83 kDa phosphoprotein (designated pp83) by PAP was uniformly observed in all cells/tissues of prostate origin, and was completely inhibited by L(+)-tartrate, the classic inhibitor of PAP. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that pp83 was a tyrosine-poor phosphoprotein and was mostly dephosphorylated by PAP at serine/threonine residues rather than tyrosine residues. Further comparison of dephosphorylation rate with that of an endogenous phosphotyrosine-containing phosphoprotein (pp53) revealed that PAP possessed both phosphoserine/threonine protein phosphatase and phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase activity. These results demonstrate that pp83 apparently is an endogenous substrate of PAP in human prostate, and that, instead of a phosphotyrosine protein specific phosphatase, PAP is a universal protein phosphatase hydrolyzing equally well the phosphotyrosine, serine, and threonine residues.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1991

Synergistic antitumor activity of interleukin-2 and cimetidine against syngeneic murine tumor.

Cimetidine, an H2 histamine receptor antagonist, is a potent immunomodulating agent, which acts by inhibiting suppressor T lymphocyte function. The present work investigated the effect, if any, of cimetidine on interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activities, and on in vivo antitumor activity using syngeneic colon 26 adenocarcinoma as the model. Mimicking the clinical conditions, all in vitro experiments were evaluated with the splenocytes prepared from tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. Ten days after subcutaneous inoculation of tumor cells (5 x 10(5)), animals were treated intraperitoneally daily with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), cimetidine (2 mg kg-1 day-1), IL-2 (300,000 IU/day), or cimetidine plus IL-2 for 7 consecutive days. The treatment of IL-2 plus cimetidine increased NK and LAK cell activities significantly and synergistically at the end of the treatment (i.e. on day 18) as well as 1 week after the treatment (i.e. on day 25), in comparison with those of the control groups (PBS, cimetidine alone, IL-2 alone). Also, in vivo antitumor activity, as analyzed by a Kaplan-Meier life table with the log-rank test, revealed a significantly prolonged survival in the group treated with IL-2 plus cimetidine compared to the control groups. Phenotyping performed on the murine splenocytes on day 18 indicated a significant reduction in Lyt2-positive cells in the cimetidine-treated group in comparison with the PBS group. A significant increase in asialo GM1-positive cells and IL-2-receptor-positive cells was detected in the group treated with IL-2 plus cimetidine in comparison with the PBS and IL-2 control groups. Therefore, this study indicates a synergistic enhancement of IL-2-induced NK and LAK cell activities in tumor-bearing hosts by cimetidine, a noncytotoxic inhibitor of suppressor T function, and a significantly prolonged survival of tumor-bearing animals treated by IL-2 plus cimetidine. It also suggests the clinical potential of combination therapy of IL-2 with cimetidine.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1991

Effects of high-energy shock waves on murine renal cell carcinoma.

The effects of high-energy shock waves (HESW) on a murine renal cell carcinoma (RenCa) was investigated. In vitro exposure of tumor cells to HESW resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability as determined by trypan blue dye exclusion, plating efficiency, growth curve, and soft agar clonogenic assays. Activity of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was detected in the supernatant after the HESW treatment due to cellular destruction, and a dose-dependent increase in cytocidal effect was demonstrated. Ultrastructural changes with swelling and distorted cristae of mitochondria, vacuolation, ribosomal lysis, and chromatinolysis were observed in HESW-treated RenCa cells. Flow cytometric (FCM) study revealed that DNA content of RenCa cells diminished after 200 HESW treatment, and RNA content of tumor cells decreased markedly after 400 HESW treatments. Partial or complete inhibition of tumor growth was shown in both animal modalities of subcutaneous inoculation and intravenous injection with sequential lung metastases. This study stressed again that HESW may play a role in combinational protocol for the treatment of human renal cell carcinoma in certain circumstances.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Prostaglandin E2 from macrophages of murine splenocyte cultures inhibits the generation of lymphokine-activated killer cell activity.

The present work investigated the association between prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) from macrophages and its inhibition of murine lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell generation. The coculture of indomethacin with interleukin-2 (IL-2) augmented LAK cell activity in an indomethacin dose-response manner, and diminished PGE2 content in the corresponding culture supernatant in a reverse dose-response manner. The correlation between the increase in LAK cell activity and the decrease in PGE2 content was highly significant. Identical results were obtained with diclofenac. A profound inhibition of LAK cell activity by exogenous PGE2 in a dose-response manner was detected. Polyclonal anti-PGE2 antiserum augmented in a dose-dependent manner the LAK cell activity, by neutralizing PGE2 in the medium. A reduction of PGE2 content in the culture supernatant was also detected when the macrophage subpopulations were cultured and was indomethacin dose-dependent. In comparison with that of normal mouse splenocytes, the incubation of whole splenocytes of tumor-bearing mice, which contained a greater subpopulation of macrophages (24% vs. 12%), produced a greater PGE2 content and a correspondingly depressed LAK cell activity. Additionally, PGE2 reduced protein kinase C (PKC) activity along with LAK cell activity generated from macrophage-depleted T cells and natural-killer-like cells. These results overall indicate that PGE2 from macrophages in murine splenocyte cultures inhibits the LAK cell generation, and PKC may be involved in the inhibition mechanism.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1990

Enhancement of murine lymphokine-activated killer cell activity by retinoic acid.

Since retinoids have been suggested to be capable of potentiating immunity, the present study was undertaken to determine the effect, if any, on lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity by retinoic acid, an active metabolite of vitamin A and a differentiation enhancer. Retinoic acid alone was shown to induce no cytotoxicity generated from nylon wool-treated nonadherent murine (BALB/c) splenocytes against natural killer-resistant, LAK-sensitive syngeneic target tumor cells. When combined with human recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2), retinoic acid augmented LAK cell activity in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. The augmentation was detected at 10(-10) M retinoic acid and reached the maximum at 10(-7) M, a greater than 200% increase in lytic activity. Kinetic study revealed that retinoic acid augmented significantly LAK cell activity when incubated in IL-2-containing culture as short as for 6 h before cytotoxicity was measured. The removal of retinoic acid from culture resulted in the loss of the augmentation. Retinoic acid was found to augment LAK cell activity in a wide range of IL-2 concentrations (750-12,000 IU/ml), even at 6,000 IU/ml where the maximal induction of LAK cell activity had been reached. No phenotype or proliferation of LAK cells was altered by the addition of retinoic acid to IL-2-containing culture. However, cellular serine protease activity, measured as N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine thiobenzyl-esterase, in LAK cells was increased by retinoic acid also in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The increase in LAK cellular serine protease activity was significantly correlated with that of augmented LAK cell activity. Overall these results demonstrated that IL-2-induced LAK cell activity was enhanced by retinoic acid and that the augmentation may be mediated by means of enhanced expression of cellular serine protease activity. This study also suggests that, in addition to its use in chemoprevention of cancer, retinoic acid is of potential in adoptive immunotherapy.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Prolongation of serum half-life of interleukin 2 and augmentation of lymphokine-activated killer cell activity by pepstatin in mice.

We reported previously using a murine model that the kidney is the organ involved in catabolism of exogenous human recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2) and that cathepsin D, a major renal acid protease, is responsible for the degradation of IL-2. In the present report also using BALB/c mice we have investigated the effect of in vivo pepstatin, an acid protease inhibitor, treatment on serum half-life of IL-2, and generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity. The in vivo pepstatin treatment by i.p. injection resulted in a significant reduction in the accumulation of 125I-IL-2 by the kidney in a reverse dose-response manner. Pepstatin treatment prolonged the serum half-life of 125I-IL-2, and the increase in serum half-life of 125I-IL-2 was pepstatin dose dependent. A significant reduction in renal cathepsin D activity, as monitored by the degradation of 125I-IL-2, was detected. In vivo pepstatin (0.6 mg/kg) treatment along with IL-2 (300,000 IU/mouse) daily for 3 or 6 days resulted in an augmentation of natural killer activity exhibited by freshly prepared and uncultured splenocytes against YAC-1 cells. An additional culturing of the splenocytes with IL-2 (3,000 IU/ml) in vitro for 1 day significantly enhanced the effect of in vivo pepstatin treatment; i.e., LAK cell activity generated from the splenocytes of animals treated with IL-2 plus pepstatin was greatly augmented in comparison with that treated with IL-2 alone. Phenotypic assessment by cell surface markers (Thy-1.2, Lyt-2, L3T4, and asialo-GM1) on the fresh splenocytes prepared from animals treated in vivo with pepstatin plus IL-2 revealed a decrease in the percentage of cells expressing Thy-1.2 and Lyt-2 and an increase in those carrying asialo-GM1. These results demonstrated that, as a result of in vivo pepstatin treatment, renal cathepsin D activity was greatly inhibited, which in turn reduced the degradation of circulating IL-2, then prolonged serum half-life of IL-2, and subsequently augmented natural killer and LAK cell activity. The in vivo pepstatin and IL-2 treatment decreased the T-cells and increased the natural killer-like LAK precursor cells, possibly also with an increase in its activity, which were further induced by in vitro IL-2 culture to generate an augmented LAK cell activity. This study also suggests the clinical potential of pepstatin in IL-2-related immunotherapy.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Comparison of prostate acid phosphatase with acid phosphatase isoenzymes from the lung and spleen.

Acid phosphatase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from human normal lung and spleen and was characterized biochemically and immunologically in comparison with prostate acid phosphatase (PAP). The apparent MW of lung acid phosphatase (LAP) and spleen acid phosphatase (SAP) was 110,000 and 100,000, respectively, similar to that of PAP (100,000). All three enzymes exhibited similar electrophoretic mobility, optimal pH, substrate, and inhibitor specificity, except that PAP dephosphorylated profoundly the phosphate group from tyrosine phosphate in phosphoangiotensin (19,700 fmol/mg/min), whereas only marginal activities were detected for LAP and SAP (19 and 73 fmol/mg/min, respectively). Amino acid analysis revealed more similarity between SAP and LAP than PAP and LAP or PAP and SAP. An immunological cross-reactivity among these three acid phosphatases was detected by polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies raised against purified PAP, although unique epitopes were detected on the PAP molecule. This study provides data explaining why conventional biochemical methods are not specific for PAP measurement and why immunologic methods still detect other acid phosphatases, as observed in clinical laboratory assays. The data also suggest the possibility of using a new substrate or antibody reagent for a more specific assay for PAP.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1990

Prostate-specific antigen: questions often asked.

In conclusion, an effective new marker for prostatic tissue has been identified and is commonly known as PSA. A review of the literature indicates that although PSA is not tumor specific, its organ-site and cell-type specificity provide the basis for making PSA the marker of choice for use in patients with prostate cancer. The clinical utility of PSA includes monitoring therapeutic efficacy, screening and early diagnosis in high-risk patients, prognosis, staging, and tumor volume evaluation, prediction of disease progression, detection of recurrent disease after radical prostatectomy, and the differential diagnosis and confirmation of tissue for prostatic origin. PSA is not a "magic bullet" for patients with prostate cancer. Many questions must still be answered. For example, with an increase in sensitivity for screening of high-risk populations, how does the urologist/oncologist determine which patients with latent curable early cancer will develop into clinically significant metastasis? Is PSA a more reliable method for detection of early prostate cancer than rectal examination? What procedure should be followed for an asymptomatic patient who presents a 35 ng/ml level of PSA during a routine physical examination? Clearly, further studies are required to answer these questions as well as to assess the malignant potential of the prostatic tumor cell. For now, the combination of PSA, rectal examination, and transrectal ultrasonography guided needle biopsy would appear to be the method of choice to decrease the yearly fatalities due to cancer of the prostate.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed1990

Prostate cancer-associated markers.

Immunodiagnosis of prostate cancer is at a more advanced stage than that of most other tumors. Two well-known markers, prostatic acid phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen, have been used in the clinical management of patients. Prostate-specific antigen is a more sensitive and reliable marker than prostatic acid phosphatase. Serum prostate-specific antigen is effective in monitoring disease status, predicting recurrence, and detecting residual disease. Prostate-specific antigen is a tool for the histological differential diagnosis of metastatic carcinomas, especially in the identification of metastatic prostate tumor cells in distant organs and in the differentiation of primary prostate carcinoma from poorly differentiated transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Few data on biological function are available. Prostatic acid phosphatase functions as a phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen as a protease. Physiological function in the prostate remains to be elucidated. Several of the prostate-specific and prostate-tumor-associated antigens, as well as a putative prostate tumor-specific antigen, as recognized by monoclonal antibodies are available. Clinical evaluation of these potential markers is not yet available.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1990

The in vivo distribution of murine lymphokine activated killer cells in splenectomized host.

The in vivo distribution of intravenously injected lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells, generated in vitro with rIL-2 from normal murine splenocytes, was studied in BALB/c mice and compared with that of normal splenocytes. Both normal splenocytes and LAK cells were labeled with 51Cr, and the results were analyzed at 6, 24, and 48 hours after injection by localization index as the parameter. After injection through tail veins of mice, LAK cells were found to migrate to the spleen, lungs, liver, lymph nodes, bones and the kidneys. The apparent increased distribution pattern of LAK cells to the lung at 6 and 24 hours after injection was not detected when normal splenocytes were injected. Since almost one third of the injected LAK cells were found to localize in the spleen, it was postulated that splenectomy would affect the in vivo organ distribution of LAK cells. Accordingly, the in vivo distribution of LAK cells in splenectomized mice was further investigated. Results indicated that splenectomy enhanced the convergence of LAK cells to the lungs, liver, lymph nodes and bones. Therefore, splenectomy may augment the therapeutic effect of the adoptive transfer of LAK cells in pulmonary, hepatic, lymph node and bony metastases.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Indirect inhibition of generation of murine lymphokine-activated killer cell activity in splenocyte cultures by interferon-gamma.

The effect of mouse recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) on murine lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity was investigated using natural killer (NK)-resistant, spontaneously developed, weakly immunogenic and highly tumourigenic, syngeneic murine mammary adenocarcinoma, JC, mimicking that of human disease, as the target. Murine YAC-1 also was used as a target cell line. rIFN-gamma, when used in combination with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), was shown to exhibit a suppressed effect on LAK cell activity generated from BALB/c mouse splenocytes, compared to that with rIL-2 alone. The decrease in LAK cell activity was rIFN-gamma dose-dependent. Kinetic study revealed that this inhibitory effect was demonstrated only when rIFN-gamma was added to the medium at the early phase of rIL-2 culture. The inhibitory effect on LAK cell generation by rIFN-gamma was completely abrogated when the nylon-wool-treated non-adherent 'macrophage-free' splenocytes were incubated with rIL-2 and rIFN-gamma. These results indicated that the LAK cell activity generated from murine splenocytes cultured with rIL-2 could be depressed by rIFN-gamma, and that the macrophages may be involved as mediators.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Prostaglandin E2-mediated suppression of murine lymphokine-activated killer cell activity generated from tumor-bearing hosts by interferon-gamma.

The effect of mouse recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on murine lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity was investigated using a natural killer-resistant, LAK-sensitive, spontaneously developed, weakly immunogenic, syngeneic murine mammary adenocarcinoma, a tumor model mimicking that of human disease. When all of the splenocytes prepared from tumor-bearing mice were cultured with recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IFN-gamma, LAK cell activity was suppressed in an IFN-gamma dose-dependent manner. An increase in the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content in the corresponding culture media was detected, as was IFN-gamma dose dependent. The suppression of generation of LAK cell activity by IFN-gamma was abrogated, accompanied by the elimination of the increase in PGE2 content, when plastic dish and nylon wool-treated nonadherent macrophage-depleted splenocytes were used. These results indicated that IL-2-induced LAK cell activity generated from the splenocytes of tumor-bearing mice was suppressed by IFN-gamma, and that PGE2 secreted from the macrophages of the splenocyte cultures served as the mediator in this IFN-gamma dose-dependent suppression of IL-2-induced LAK cell activity.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1989

Serum level of cryptic tumor antigens in breast cancer patients as determined by two monoclonal antibodies (M85/F36) and its comparison with CA 15-3.

An enzyme immunoassay system that measures cryptic epitopes on breast cancer mucinlike antigens (BCM-EIA) was evaluated in a double-blind manner in sera from 58 normal blood donors, 36 sex- and age-matched controls, 36 patients with benign breast diseases, and 47 patients with breast cancer. Two murine monoclonal antibodies, M85 (IgM) as the solid-phase and F36/22 (IgG3) as the probe, were used in the configuration of the assay kit. The assay additionally utilized neuraminidase to remove terminal sialic acid from carbohydrate side-chains to expose cryptic epitopes that were masked in serum specimens. BCM-EIA monoclonal assay from the normal healthy blood donors resulted in 17.34 +/- 7.04 units/ml (mean +/- 1 S.D.) with an upper normal cutoff of 31.4 units/ml. The distributions of serum BCM in the sex- and age-matched controls (17.77 +/- 11.17) and benign breast diseases (14.34 +/- 11.46) were similar to that of normal blood donors. A mean value of 66.04 units/ml and 27.74 units/ml was obtained from breast cancer patients with active disease and without evidence of disease, respectively, a level much greater than those of normals, controls, and benign breast diseases. Simultaneous analysis of CA 15-3, a putative breast tumor marker, in the normal donors and breast cancer patients revealed correlation regression of (CA 15-3) = 0.876 (BCM) + 1.972, r = 0.856; and (CA 15-3) = 0.66 (BCM) + 16.094, r = 0.730, respectively. These data showed that there is a statistically significant correlation of CA 15-3 and BCM in normal blood donors' specimens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗