A Biomimetic Lipid Membrane Device Reveals the Interaction of Cancer Biomarkers with Human Serum Lipidic Moieties.

A major problem for the detection of cancer biomarkers in plasma or serum is that common clinical practice does not require the patient to be in a fasting state. Considering that lipoproteins are the main population affected by food intake, the authors hypothesized that biomarkers could be embedded in lipid particles and thereby opens a new avenue for detection. Using the recently published biomarker, soluble VE-cadherin (sVE), the authors tested our hypothesis using techniques of biophysics, biochemistry and the tools of nanobiotechnology on serum samples from kidney cancer patients (n = 106).

The tyrosine-kinase inhibitor sunitinib targets vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin: a marker of response to antitumoural treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is an endothelial cell-specific protein responsible for endothelium integrity. Its adhesive properties are regulated by post-translational processing, such as tyrosine phosphorylation at site Y in its cytoplasmic domain, and cleavage of its extracellular domain (sVE). In hormone-refractory metastatic breast cancer, we recently demonstrated that sVE levels correlate to poor survival.

Soluble VE-cadherin in metastatic breast cancer: an independent prognostic factor for both progression-free survival and overall survival.

Background: Patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) represent a heterogeneous group, with large differences in outcomes from individual patients. VE-cadherin, an endothelial-specific cadherin, was shown to promote tumour proliferation and angiogenesis. Soluble VE-cadherin has been recently associated to breast cancer progression.

Soluble vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin and autoantibodies to VE-cadherin in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with etanercept or adalimumab.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical value of sVE and anti-vascular endothelial-cadherin antibodies (AAVE) in RA treated with etanercept or adalimumab combined with methotrexate.

Methods: This was an 18-month prospective multicenter study in which patients had active RA, requiring TNF antagonist. sVE rates and AAVE titers were measured respectively by dot blot and ELISA.

BIOBRAD Study: The Search for Biomarkers of Bradykinin-Mediated Angio-Oedema Attacks.

Background: The aetiology of angio-oedema (AE) is difficult to determine; however, it is essential in emergency situations when two major contexts may be present: mast cell-mediated AE and bradykinin-mediated AE. Different forms of AE are currently distinguished based on clinical criteria (spontaneous duration of the attack, presence of concomitant or late-appearing superficial urticaria, history of atopy, and others), but specific biomarkers could improve patient management.

Objective: In this prospective study, potential biomarkers have been identified, and their statistical characteristics were examined.