Comparison of CEA and CA15-3 Markers with Serotonin, Ceruloplasmin and Copper in Breast Cancer Recurrence after Chemotherapy

Background: The serotonin, copper, and ceruloplasmin markers are altered in various cancers, including breast cancer. It has been reported that these markers have the potential to be used in the study of cancer recurrence. The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of serotonin, copper and ceruloplasmin besides the routine breast cancer markers such as CEA and CA15-3 in the blood sample of patients with invasive ductal breast cancer, before and after chemotherapy. Methods: This study was performed on 30 patients with breast cancer. Blood samples were taken from the patients before and after chemotherapy. Necessary data including age, tumor grade and status of Her-2, ER, PR receptors were obtained from patient records. Serotonin, CEA and CA15-3 levels were measured by ELISA method. Ceruloplasmin and copper were measured by nephelometry and colorimetric methods, respectively. Results: Results showed a decrease in serotonin, ceruloplasmin, copper, CEA and CA15-3 after treatment but only the levels of serotonin and ceruloplasmin showed a steady decrease. No significant relationship was observed between tumor grade and ER-PR, Her-2 receptors. Conclusion: This study showed that chemotherapy resulted in steady decline in serotonin and ceruloplasmin levels but this decrease was not steady in levels of CA15-3 and CEA. Therefore, if our results are confirmed by further research, they can be considered as a viable alternative to routine markers in cancer recurrence after chemotherapy.

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, TOXICITY EVALUATION OF POLYCARPAEA CORYMBOSA LAMK AND ITS EFFECT ON CANCER BIOMARKERS OF EHRLICH ASCITES CARCINOMA-INDUCED MICE COMPARED WITH THE REFERENCE STANDARD DRUG 5- FLUOROURACIL

Objective: The current investigation focuses on the study of efficacy of whole plant of Polycarpaea corymbosa Lamk in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) inoculated Swiss albino mice. Methods: The whole plant of P. corymbosa Lamk (WPC) was extracted with solvents of increasing polarity and their percentage yields were calculated. The major phytoconstituents present in the plant extracts were determined by standard chemical tests. Tumor was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of EAC cells (1×106 cells/mouse). The in vivo antitumor effect of extracts was assessed by monitoring the mean survival time, tumor volume, effect on hematological parameters, determination of lysosome specific cancer markers (cathepsin-D), β-D glucuronidase and acid phosphatase, liver marker enzymes (5’-nuclotidase and lactate dehydrogenase), membrane bound ATPase (Na+/K+ ATPase and Mg2+ ATPase), DNA, and RNA content. Results: The percentage yield obtained were 9.87%w/w, 7.88%w/w, and 16.56% w/w for petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extract, respectively. The phytochemical screenings of those extracts were performed. The order of activity of extracts was ethanol extract > ethyl acetate > petroleum ether. Among the extracts, Ethanol extract of P. corymbosa Lamk. showed a significant increase in life span and decrease in viable cancer cell number and tumor volume. The protective effect of the extract on the hemopoietic system at the dose 200mg∕kg was noted. The alterations in the hematological profile, lysosome-specific cancer markers, liver-specific cancer markers, and membrane-bound ATPases DNA and RNA were restored. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of P. corymbosa Lamk. possesses in vivo anticancer activity when compared to the tumor control group.

Single EV analysis (sEVA) of mutated proteins allows detection of stage 1 pancreatic cancer

Tumor cell derived extracellular vesicles (EV) are being explored as circulating biomarkers for cancer detection. Up to now however, clinical results have been mixed for a number of reasons including the predominant use of bulk measurements, the inability to differentiate tumor from host cell derived vesicles, the general absence of uniquely identifying biomarkers and the unknown frequency of stochastically distributed biomarkers into single circulating vesicles. We hypothesized that a single EV analysis (sEVA) technique could potentially improve diagnostic accuracy necessary to detect early cancers but the actual biomarker frequency and practical detection limits are currently unknown. Using pancreatic cancer, we carefully analyzed the composition of putative cancer markers in 11 established and new patient derived models. In parental PDAC cells positive for KRASmut and/or P53mut proteins only ~40% of EVs were also positive (range: 30-64%). This rate of positivity increased to 57% when additional PDAC biomarkers were considered (MUC1, EGFR, αFG-P4OH) in cell lines. In a blinded study involving 16 patients with surgically proven stage 1 PDAC, KRASmut and P53mut protein was detectable at much lower levels, generally in < 0.1% of vesicles. With the analytical capabilities of sEVA however, 15 of the 16 patients with stage 1 PDAC expressed low levels of biomarker positive EV. Using a modeling approach, we estimate that the current PDAC detection limit is at ~0.1 cm3 tumor volume, below clinical imaging capabilities. These findings establish the potential for single-EV analysis for early cancer detection.

Carbon Material Based Electrochemical Immunosensor for Gastric Cancer Markers Detection

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, and early diagnosis will be of great significance to improve the survival quality and overall treatment outcome evaluation of patients. Nanoelectrochemical immunosensor is an emerging biosensor combining nanotechnology, electrochemical analysis method and immunological technology, which has simple operation, fast analysis speed, high sensitivity, and good selectivity. This mini-review summarized immunoassay techniques, nanotechnology and electrochemical sensing for the early detection of gastric cancer. In particular, we focus on the tension of carbon nanomaterials in this field, including the functionalized preparation of materials, signal enhancement and the construction of novel sensing interfaces. Currently, various tumor markers are being developed, but the more recognized gastric cancer tumor markers are carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA), CD44V9, miRNAs, and programmed death ligand 1. Among them, the electrochemical immunosensor allows the detection of CEA, CA, and miRNAs. The mini-review focused on the development of using carbon based materials, especially carbon nanotubes and graphene for immunosensor fabrication and gastric cancer markers detection.

Graphene-Assisted Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Pancreatic Cancer Markers

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal gastrointestinal malignancy. Most patients are already in the middle to advanced stages of pancreatic cancer at the time of diagnosis and cannot be treated completely. As a single-atom planar two-dimensional crystal, graphene’s unusual electronic structure, specific electronic properties and excellent electron transport capacity make it uniquely advantageous in the field of electrochemical sensing. In this mini-review, we summarize the potential application of graphene in pancreatic cancer detection. K-Ras gene, CEA and MicroRNA are important in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.