Serum estrone concentration, estrone sulfate/estrone ratio and BMI are associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and progesterone receptor status in postmenopausal primary breast cancer patients suffering invasive ductal carcinoma.

Background: We investigated in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer prior to surgical intervention whether, serum levels of different steroid hormones and hormonal precursors associated with tumor tissue estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status.

Methods: We enrolled 1,042 patients suffering invasive ductal carcinoma undergoing surgical resection in the National Institute of Oncology, Hungary between 2003 and 2011. Serum parameters were measured by RIA/IRMA assays; tumor tissue ER, PR and HER2 status was assessed histologically.

Structure, enzymatic stability and antitumor activity of sea lamprey GnRH-III and its dimer derivatives.

Direct antitumor activity of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) gonadotropin-releasing hormone III (Glp-His-Trp-Ser-His-Asp-Trp-Lys-Pro-Gly-NH(2); lGnRH-III) was described on several tumor cells. To improve the selectivity of antitumor effects without increasing the hormone releasing activity and to enhance the enzymatic stability, lGnRH-III dimers were prepared via disulfide bond formation. Our results demonstrate that the lGnRH-III dimer derivatives exhibited higher antiproliferative effect and enzymatic stability in comparison with the native lGnRH-III, while lower LH-releasing potency was determined.

Liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis of human serum acid alpha-1-glycoprotein.

Human serum acid alpha-1-glycoprotein (AGP, orosomucoid) content of healthy individuals and cancer patients was measured, isolated and purified using a protocol of fast and biocompatible sample preparation, ion exchange and dye-ligand affinity chromatographic methods. In comparison to the healthy individuals significantly higher serum AGP levels were found in a wide spectrum of cancer patients, indicating its diagnostic value in the malignant disease. Oligosaccharide content of AGP samples was separated following PNGase F enzyme digestion and analysed by RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Comparison of prognostic significance of serum 5-S-Cysteinyldopa, LDH and S-100B protein in Stage III-IV malignant melanoma.

5-S-cysteinyldopa is a precursor of pheomelanin. S-100B protein is a low molecular weight, acidic, calcium binding, cytoplasmatic protein. LDH was defined as the most important serum parameter in disseminated melanoma.

Use of serum 5-S-CD and S-100B protein levels to monitor the clinical course of malignant melanoma.

5-S-Cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD) is a precursor of pheomelanin. S-100B protein is a low molecular weight, acidic, calcium binding, cytoplasmic protein. In this study, the concentration changes of serum 5-S-CD and S-100B protein in melanomas of all stages were examined in parallel and patients were monitored during and after treatment.