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- Stamey, T. A., et al.
(författare)
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Tumor markers. Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Prognostic Parameters in Localized Prostate Cancer. Stockholm, Sweden, May 12-13, 1993
- 1994
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology, Supplement. - 0300-8886. ; :162, s. 73-87
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This chapter mainly deals with biochemical aspects on prostate specific antigen (PSA) and its clinical value. To a limited extent, also other tumor markers, which might be of importance in the evaluation of patients with prostate cancer are discussed. In serum, PSA exists in a free form or bound to antichymotrypsin. Interestingly, only 10% of PSA secreted from cancer cells seems to exist in a free form, as compared to 30% of PSA secreted from cells in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PSA seems to be closely, but not absolutely, related to tumor grade and stage. The mean value of PSA in patients with tumors dominated by Gleason grades 3 or below, was 10 ng/ml, compared to 29 ng/ml in those with higher grades. Patients with PSA values of 50 ng/ml or above almost exclusively had tumor of Gleason grades 4 or 5, and this limit usually reflected a generalized disease. Patients with PSA-values below 10 ng/ml almost exclusively had tumors confined to the prostate gland. In countries where screening for prostate cancer is believed in, it is important to understand that normal cut-off values are related to patient's age. The upper normal limit of males below 50 years of age should be set at 2.5 ng/ml, as compared to 6.5 ng/ml for men over 70 years of age. To improve the value of PSA determination and for scientific purposes, the standardization of the assay is urgently needed and under way. Prostate acid phosphatase (PAP) has in most centres been replaced by PSA. An elevated PAP value, as measured by the enzymatic method, invariably indicates a generalized disease and could thus be used as a complementary informative assay to PSA. Other markers have been used mainly to achieve additional prognostic information. In a multivariate analysis, the non-specific tumor marker neopterin, which reflects the host response to tumor antigens, was closely related to short-term prognosis. Neopterin was followed by thymidine kinase, a protein reflecting the cell turn-over and tumor grade. Also PSA at diagnosis seemed to add some prognostic information, whereas other markers did not.
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| 2. |
- Erfurth, E M, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma neuropeptides in hyperthyroidism
- 1990
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Ingår i: Thyroidology. - 1121-7596. ; 2:2, s. 59-63
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plasma levels of the neuropeptides, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP, neuropeptide Y (NPY), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P, and galanin were determined in 15 hyperthyroid patients before and at 3 occassions during 38 weeks of treatment. Treatment was performed with either 131I alone or with carbimazole, with combination of carbimazole and thyroxine, or with subtotal thyroidectomy. Before and after 11 (+/- 4), 24 (+/- 6) and 38 (+/- 5) weeks of treatment, plasma neuropeptide levels were analysed. A group of 9 premenopausal women served as controls. During hyperthyroidism, mean plasma level of CGRP was higher than in controls (P less than 0.001). In contrast, the mean plasma levels of the other measured neuropeptides did not differ from those in the controls. Mean serum level of tree T4 was lowered from 81.9 +/- 30.1 to 23.9 +/- 8.6 pmol/l and mean serum level of free T3 was lowered from 27.3 +/- 7.9 to 6.7 +/- 2.3 pmol/l during the course of the treatment. After 11 weeks of treatment, mean plasma NPY level was significantly increased (P = 0.004) compared to pretreatment levels. However, after 38 weeks of treatment, mean plasma NPY level had returned to control values. The mean plasma CGRP level was significantly reduced at 11 and 38 weeks of treatment compared to pre-treatment value (P = 0.002 and P = 0.004, respectively). Mean plasma level of neurotensin slowly declined during the treatment (P = 0.003). In contrast, mean plasma level of VIP, of substance P, and of galanin did not differ from control value before or after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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