Background Although tumor-infiltrating T cells have been documented in ovarian carcinoma, a clear association with clinical outcome has not been established. Methods We performed immunohistochemical analysis of 186 frozen specimens from advanced-stage ovarian carcinomas to assess the distribution of tumor-infiltrating T cells and conducted outcome analyses. Molecular analyses were performed in some tumors by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results CD3+ tumor-infiltrating T cells were detected within tumor-cell islets (intratumoral T cells) in 102 of the 186 tumors (54.8 percent); they were undetectable in 72 tumors (38.7 percent); the remaining 12 tumors (6.5 percent) could not be evaluated. There were significant differences in the distributions of progression-free survival and overall survival according to the presence or absence of intratumoral T cells (P<0.001 for both comparisons). The five-year overall survival rate was 38.0 percent among patients whose tumors contained T cells and 4.5 percent ...

http://inmunologia.umh.es/Doctorado/2003NEJMZhangintratumoralTcells%20Maciá.pdf

Intratumoral T cells, recurrence, and survival in epithelial ovarian cancer.

An ultrasensitive method for detecting protein analytes has been developed. The system relies on magnetic microparticle probes with antibodies that specifically bind a target of interest [prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in this case] and nanoparticle probes that are encoded with DNA that is unique to the protein target of interest and antibodies that can sandwich the target captured by the microparticle probes. Magnetic separation of the complexed probes and target followed by dehybridization of the oligonucleotides on the nanoparticle probe surface allows the determination of the presence of the target protein by identifying the oligonucleotide sequence released from the nanoparticle probe. Because the nanoparticle probe carries with it a large number of oligonucleotides per protein binding event, there is substantial amplification and PSA can be detected at 30 attomolar concentration. Alternatively, a polymerase chain reaction on the oligonucleotide bar codes can boost the sensitivity to 3 attomolar. Comparable clinically accepted conventional assays for detecting the same target have sensitivity limits of ∼3 picomdar, six orders of magnitude less sensitive than what is observed with this method.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/301/5641/1884.full.pdf

Nanoparticle-based bio-bar codes for the ultrasensitive detection of proteins.

The goal of this review is to present a comprehensive survey of the many intriguing facets of creatine (Cr) and creatinine metabolism, encompassing the pathways and regulation of Cr biosynthesis an...

http://www.afboard.com/library/creatinemetabolism.pdf

Creatine and Creatinine Metabolism

In addition to their roles in IGF transport, the six IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) regulate cell activity in various ways. By sequestering IGFs away from the type I IGF receptor, they may inhibit mitogenesis, differentiation, survival, and other IGF-stimulated events. IGFBP proteolysis can reverse this inhibition or generate IGFBP fragments with novel bioactivity. Alternatively, IGFBP interaction with cell or matrix components may concentrate IGFs near their receptor, enhancing IGF activity. IGF receptor-independent IGFBP actions are also increasingly recognized. IGFBP-1 interacts with alpha(5)beta(1) integrin, influencing cell adhesion and migration. IGFBP-2, -3, -5, and -6 have heparin-binding domains and can bind glycosaminoglycans. IGFBP-3 and -5 have carboxyl-terminal basic motifs incorporating heparin-binding and additional basic residues that interact with the cell surface and matrix, the nuclear transporter importin-beta, and other proteins. Serine/threonine kinase receptors are proposed for IGFBP-3 and -5, but their signaling functions are poorly understood. Other cell surface IGFBP-interacting proteins are uncharacterized as functional receptors. However, IGFBP-3 binds and modulates the retinoid X receptor-alpha, interacts with TGFbeta signaling through Smad proteins, and influences other signaling pathways. These interactions can modulate cell cycle and apoptosis. Because IGFBPs regulate cell functions by diverse mechanisms, manipulation of IGFBP-regulated pathways is speculated to offer therapeutic opportunities in cancer and other diseases.

/pdf/cellular-actions-of-the-insulin-like-growth-factor-binding-sganno3kh8.pdf

Cellular actions of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(04)16044-3.pdf

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF binding protein-3, and cancer risk: systematic review and meta-regression analysis

Immunoreactive prostate-specific antigen levels in female and male breast tumors and its association with steroid hormone receptors and patient age

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is believed to be a highly specific marker for normal and cancerous prostatic tissue. We recently found that 30-40% of breast tumors produce PSA. Other data from our group suggest that normal breast can also produce PSA under conditions of stimulation by steroid hormones. In addition, we detected PSA in amniotic fluid. Here we report the presence of PSA in breast milk of lactating women. PSA concentrations in breast milk were quite variable, ranging from < 0.01 microgram/L in 4 of 38 milks to 350 micrograms/L; the median was 0.47 microgram/L. PSA concentration in breast milk was not correlated with mother's age or the sex of the newborn. It did tend to decrease with increasing time postdelivery, but was still detectable 2 weeks postdelivery. PSA in milk was equally measurable by a highly sensitive PSA assay based on time-resolved fluorometry and by the IMx automated PSA method. As confirmed by Western blot analysis, PSA in milk was present predominantly in its 33-kDa form; the PSA-alpha 1-antichymotrypsin complex (100 kDa) was also present but its concentration was < 25% of total PSA. We conclude that the female breast can produce PSA and that PSA is secreted into the milk during lactation; however, the biological role of PSA in milk is unknown. These and other data presented by our group suggest that PSA, a serine protease, may play a role in control of growth in mammary and other tissues through regulation of growth factors, cytokines, and growth-factor-binding proteins.

Prostate-specific antigen in milk of lactating women.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is thought to be produced exclusively by prostatic epithelial cells and is currently used as a tumor marker of prostatic adenocarcinoma We recently found that 30% of breast cancers contain PSA immunoreactivity (IR-PSA) To examine the prognostic value of PSA in female breast cancer, we measured IR-PSA in tumor cytosols of 174 breast cancer patients and classified the breast cancers as either PSA positive or PSA negative based on an IR-PSA cutoff level of 003 ng/mg IR-PSA was present in 27% of the patients IR-PSA presence was associated with early disease stage, small tumors, and estrogen receptor-positive tumors We used the Cox proportional hazards regression model to analyze survival of patients in association with PSA status and found that patients with IR-PSA-positive tumors had a reduced risk for relapse and death in univariate analysis ( P = 002 and 006, respectively) and a reduced risk for relapse in multivariate analysis ( P = 003) Further analysis indicated that the effect of IR-PSA on relapse-free survival was evident in node-positive or estrogen receptor-negative patients Our study suggests that IR-PSA is an independent favorable prognostic marker for breast cancer and may be used to identify a subgroup of estrogen receptor-negative and/or node-positive patients who have good prognoses

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/55/10/2104.full.pdf

Prostate-specific antigen is a new favorable prognostic indicator for women with breast cancer.

https://www.urologic.theclinics.com/article/S0094-0143(05)70373-6/pdf

Nonprostatic sources of prostate-specific antigen

We report an ultrasensitive time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (TRIFA) for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The assay is an improvement of our previous report (Clin Chem 1993;39:2108-14) and includes the utilization of two monoclonal antibodies and a one-step incubation period, which greatly reduces analysis time. The new method demonstrates a superior lower analytical limit of detection ( 15 ng/g of total protein in 28% and 23% by TRIFA and Immulite analysis, respectively. Both methods demonstrate a significant association between breast tumor PSA immunoreactivity and progesterone and estrogen receptor positivity (P <0.001). Analysis of serum samples obtained for monitoring of postradical prostatectomy patients reveals significant PSA changes at concentrations undetectable by conventional methods. The significance of these results as well as the potential applications of ultrasensitive PSA assays in breast and prostate cancers are discussed.

/pdf/ultrasensitive-detection-of-prostate-specific-antigen-by-a-1cd1rm40pi.pdf

Ultrasensitive detection of prostate-specific antigen by a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay and the Immulite immunochemiluminescent third-generation assay: potential applications in prostate and breast cancers.

He Yu

Papers

Immunoreactive prostate-specific antigen levels in female and male breast tumors and its association with steroid hormone receptors and patient age

Prostate-specific antigen in milk of lactating women.

Prostate-specific antigen is a new favorable prognostic indicator for women with breast cancer.

Nonprostatic sources of prostate-specific antigen

Ultrasensitive detection of prostate-specific antigen by a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay and the Immulite immunochemiluminescent third-generation assay: potential applications in prostate and breast cancers.