Prognostic significance of albuminuria in patients with renal cell cancer.

Purpose: A relationship between the urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE) and different types of tumors has been previously described but little is known about UAE and renal cell cancer (RCC). We evaluated the prognostic significance of UAE and its correlation with tumor clinicopathological findings in patients with RCC treated with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha). Because rIL-2 and rIFN-alpha increase glomerular permeability, we also determined whether the first immunotherapy cycle induced a significant increase in UAE and whether it was related to tumor parameters.

Assessment of biotransformation of the arene moiety of styrene in volunteers and occupationally exposed workers.

Styrene is a chemical widely used in the plastic industry. The main pathway of styrene metabolism in humans occurs via the oxidation to styrene-7,8-oxide (7,8-SO). The aim of this study was the investigation of a minor metabolic route, involving the oxidation of the arene moiety of styrene, by means of the characterization of the conjugated urinary metabolites of 4-vinylphenol (4-VP).

Genetic polymorphism of drug-metabolizing enzymes and styrene-induced DNA damage.

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 48 workers exposed to styrene and 14 unexposed healthy controls in order to investigate the genotoxic potential of styrene exposure. DNA damage was assessed in peripheral blood leukocytes (WBCs) by the comet assay. Polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1) and the gene encoding microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX) were characterized to assess their possible modifying role in styrene metabolism and subsequent DNA damage.