Specific Urinary Metabolites in Malignant Melanoma

Background and objectives: Melanin, which has a confirmed role in melanoma cell behaviour, is formed in the process of melanogenesis and is synthesized from tryptophan, L-tyrosine and their metabolites. All these metabolites are easily detectable by chromatography in urine. Materials and Methods: Urine samples of 133 individuals (82 malignant melanoma patients and 51 healthy controls) were analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The diagnosis of malignant melanoma was confirmed histologically. Results: Chromatograms of melanoma patients showed increased levels of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid, vanilmandelic acid, homovanilic acid, tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, and indoxyl sulphate compared to healthy controls. Concentration of indoxyl sulphate, homovanilic acid and tryptophan were significantly increased even in the low clinical stage 0 of the disease (indoxyl sulphate, homovanilic acid and tryptophan in patients with clinical stage 0 vs. controls expressed as medium/ interquartile range in µmol/mmol creatinine: 28.37/15.30 vs. 5.00/6.91; 47.97/33.08 vs. 7.33/21.25; and 16.38/15.98 vs. 3.46/6.22, respectively). Conclusions: HPLC detection of metabolites of L-tyrosine and tryptophan in the urine of melanoma patients may play a significant role in diagnostics as well as a therapeutic strategy of melanoma cancer.

Rats offspring exposed to Ipomoea Carnea and handling during gestation: neurochemical evaluation

The present study evaluated the central monoamine levels of male and female adult rat offspring exposed orally by gavage to 0.0, 0.7, 3.0 and 15.0 mg/kg I. carnea aqueous extract daily, from gestation day (GD) 5 to GD 21. Several alterations in the monoamine activity systems were observed. However, the major differences were noted between the 0.0 mg/kg and the no gavage control groups, showing that alterations showing that alterations were not due to the alterations to the aqueous extract. The control data showed that gavage and handling of dams were stressful enough to produce a significant decline in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and an increase in vanilmandelic acid (VMA), indicating decreased dopamine (DA) and enhanced norepinephrine (NE) activity, respectively.

Catecholamine production in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

OBJECTIVE: Amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation is a classical feature of gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NET). Production of catecholamines was studied in GEP NET and non-NET patients. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was undertaken. METHODS: We studied catecholamine and metabolite secretion in 115 consecutive GEP NET patients and in 20 patients with non-NET. After specific extraction, vanilmandelic acid, homovanilic acid, catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine) and methoxylated derivates (metanephrine, normetanephrine, methoxytyramine) in urinary extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results were indexed to the 24-h urinary creatinine levels. RESULTS: Among the 115 patients with NET, 9 (8%) had an increase of at least one urinary catecholamine or metabolite; in 7 out of the 9 the increase was slight being less than twice the upper value of the normal range. Elevated urinary dopamine (3 patients), methoxytyramine (6 patients), norepinephrine (2 patients) and normetanephrine (2 patients) were found. No increased urinary excretion of epinephrine nor metanephrine was observed. An adrenal mass existed in one of these nine patients but metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy was negative as was immunohistochemistry for epithelial markers. None of the 20 patients with non-NET demonstrated an increased excretion of catecholamine or metabolites. No relationships were found between catecholamine and metabolite excretions and patients' tumor and treatment characteristics. CONCLUSION: Production of catecholamines and metabolites is a rare event in GEP NET patients. Histological results, including positive immunohistochemistry for epithelial markers may help to diagnose GEP NET.