Targeting the tumor microenvironment for cancer therapy.

in Clinical Chemistry (2013), 59(1), 85-93

BACKGROUND: With the emergence of the tumor microenvironment as an essential ingredient of cancer malignancy, therapies targeting the host compartment of tumors have begun to be designed and applied in ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: With the emergence of the tumor microenvironment as an essential ingredient of cancer malignancy, therapies targeting the host compartment of tumors have begun to be designed and applied in the clinic. CONTENT: The malignant features of cancer cells cannot be manifested without an important interplay between cancer cells and their local environment. The tumor infiltrate composed of immune cells, angiogenic vascular cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, and cancer-associated fibroblastic cells contributes actively to cancer progression. The ability to change these surroundings is an important property by which tumor cells are able to acquire some of the hallmark functions necessary for tumor growth and metastatic dissemination. Thus in the clinical setting the targeting of the tumor microenvironment to encapsulate or destroy cancer cells in their local environment has become mandatory. The variety of stromal cells, the complexity of the molecular components of the tumor stroma, and the similarity with normal tissue present huge challenges for therapies targeting the tumor microenvironment. These issues and their interplay are addressed in this review. After a decade of intensive clinical trials targeting cellular components of the tumor microenvironment, more recent investigations have shed light on the important role in cancer progression played by the noncellular stromal compartment composed of the extracellular matrix. SUMMARY: A better understanding of how the tumor environment affects cancer progression should provide new targets for the isolation and destruction of cancer cells via interference with the complex crosstalk established between cancer cells, host cells, and their surrounding extracellular matrix. [less ▲]

Impact of the use of the Manufacture's published reference range for PTH vs. the reference range established in the Laboratory for the classification of the haemodialyzed patients with the KDIGO Guidelines

in Clinical Chemistry (2011, October), 57(S10), 191

New insights on the stability of the (1-84) PTH as determined with an automated 3rd generation PTH assay

in Clinical Chemistry (2011, October), 57(S10), 190

New use of VEGF in therapeutics: application in tendon lesions

in Clinical Chemistry (2010, July), 56(S6), 111

Introduction: As demonstrated in previous studies, mechanical overload, injury and inflammation, hypoxic condition or any combination of the above could lead to increased expression of VEGF in the tendon ... [more ▼]

Introduction: As demonstrated in previous studies, mechanical overload, injury and inflammation, hypoxic condition or any combination of the above could lead to increased expression of VEGF in the tendon. Thus, VEGF could participate in the healing of pathological tendons. Indeed, some authors are convinced that this neovascularization is the sign of a chronic tendinopathy while others plead in favour of it being a sign of healing processes. The VEGF111, which is a biologically active and proteolysis-resistant VEGF-A isoform, was recently identified. It is induced by ultraviolet B and genotoxic drugs. Experimentation shows that, in nude mice, tumors formed by HEK293 cells expressing VEGF111 develop a more widespread peritumoral neovascularisation than those expressing other VEGF isoforms. Good angiogenic activity and resistance to proteolysis makes VEGF111 a potential beneficial therapeutic option for ischemic diseases. The aim of our study was to determine whether if VEGF111 could have a therapeutic interest in the framework of tendinous pathology. Methods (*): A 5mm defect was surgically induced in Achilles tendon of 60 rats. Rats were divided into 2 groups of 30: A: a control group (no injection) and B: with a VEGF111 injection. The rats of group B received an injection of 100 ng of VEGF111 in situ 1 hour after surgery on the site of the tendon lesion. Afterwards, rats of both groups were placed in their cages without immobilization. After 5, 15 and 30 days, 10 rats of each group were euthanized. The traumatized Achilles tendon of each rat was dissected and removed. Immediately after sampling, tendons were submitted to a biomechanical tensile test up to rupture, using a tensile machine with “Cryo-jaw”. Statistical analyses were made with an ANOVA. Results: A significant increase over time of the force necessary to induce tendon rupture was observed for tendons which had been submitted to an injection of VEGF111 (p=0.016). The force required to break the tendon is always greater for the VEGF111 group (p<0.05). Discussion: We demonstrated that the force necessary to induce the rupture of a rat’s Achilles tendon during biomechanical tensile testing was greater for tendons which had been submitted to an injection of VEGF111. Thus, this experimentation showed that VEGF111 injections could accelerate the tendon healing process and increase the force needed to break tendons in their healing process. Conclusion: VEGF111 could be a new therapy for tendon lesions. However, other experimentation using a rat model with different concentrations of VEGF111 should be made to ascertain the best concentration for this healing process. Acknowledgement: This experimentation was partially financed by “Standard de Liège” and “Lejeune-Lechien” grants. (*) All experimental procedures and protocols used in this investigation were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Liège. [less ▲]

Assessment of high sensitive troponin T and I immunoassays in patients with acute chest

in Clinical Chemistry (2010, July), 56(S6), 127

Introduction: Cardiac troponin I and T are specific markers of myocardial injury that are widely used for the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In acute chest pain without ST-segment elevation ... [more ▼]

Introduction: Cardiac troponin I and T are specific markers of myocardial injury that are widely used for the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In acute chest pain without ST-segment elevation, they are used to differentiate unstable angina from non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Recently, troponin assays with higher analytical sensitivities became available to enable the detection of minor myocardial damage and identify individuals at higher risk for ACS. As a result of its high tissue-specificity, cardiac troponin T and I are cardio-specific, highly sensitive markers for myocardial damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the new higher sensitive troponin (T and I) in patients with stable angina and acute chest pain without ST-segment elevation. Methods: Sixty subjects (mean age : 65.5± 11 years), were included: 20 healthy controls, 20 patients with stable angina, 9 with unstable angina (troponin-) and 18 patients with NSTEMI myocardial infarction (troponin+). The protocol was approved by the ethic committee of the University of Liège (Belgium). High sensitive troponin T (hsTnT) determination was realized on heparin plasma by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on Modular E (Roche Diagnostic). Troponin I II (TnI II) is a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay for the quantitative determination of cardiac troponin-I in heparine plasma on the ARCHITECT i System (Abbott Diagnostic). The lower detection limit of these assays was 0.005μg/L for hsTnT and 0.01μg/L for TnI II. Stastistical analysis was performed using t test. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: HsTNT levels were 0.003(0.003, 0.004) [median baseline (1st, 3rd quartile)]ng/ml in controls, 0.0075 (0.00475, 0.014) ng/ml in stable angina, 0.011(0.006, 0.012) ng/ml in unstable angina and 0.3715 (0.1795, 1.00725) ng/ml in NSTEMI ACS. TnI II levels were 0 (0, 0.001) ng/ml in controls and in patients with stable angina, 0.07 (0.005, 0.014) ng/ml in unstable angina and 1.4475 (0.0407, 2.656) ng/ml in NSTEMI. HsTNT and TnI II levels were significantly increased in NSTEMI as compared to control subjects, patients with stable and unstable angina. TnI II levels were also increased in unstable angina as compared to controls. Conclusion: In our population, TnI II was more sensitive than hsTNT to detect minor myocardial damage in patients with unstable angina as compared to controls. Therefore, future studies will have to determine whether TnI II might contribute to better risk stratification and treatment strategy in this group of patients. [less ▲]

Analytical validation of the Abbott Architect urine NGAL

in Clinical Chemistry (2010, June), 56(S6), 96

The ratio of PTH as measured by third and second generation assays as a marker for parathyroid carcinoma

in Clinical Chemistry (2010, June), 56(S6), 188

Evaluation of the VITROS 5600 integrated system for IgA IgG and IgM determination in serum

in Clinical Chemistry (2009, July), 55

Measurement of ribosomal RNA turnover in vivo by use of deuterium-labeled glucose.

in Clinical Chemistry (2009), 55(10), 1824-33

BACKGROUND: Most methods for estimation of rates of RNA production are not applicable in human in vivo clinical studies. We describe here an approach for measuring ribosomal RNA turnover in vivo using [6 ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Most methods for estimation of rates of RNA production are not applicable in human in vivo clinical studies. We describe here an approach for measuring ribosomal RNA turnover in vivo using [6,6-(2)H(2)]-glucose as a precursor for de novo RNA synthesis. Because this method involves neither radioactivity nor toxic metabolites, it is suitable for human studies. METHODS: For method development in vitro, a lymphocyte cell line (PM1) was cultured in the presence of [6,6-(2)H(2)]-glucose. RNA was extracted, hydrolyzed enzymatically to ribonucleosides, and derivatized to either the aldonitrile tetra-acetate or the pentafluoro triacetate derivative of the pentose before GC-MS. We identified optimum derivatization and analysis conditions and demonstrated quantitative incorporation of deuterium from glucose into RNA of dividing cells. RESULTS: Pilot clinical studies demonstrated the applicability of this approach to blood leukocytes and solid tissues. A patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia received [6,6-(2)H(2)]-glucose (1 g/kg) orally in aliquots administered every 30 min for a period of 10 h. When we analyzed CD3(-) B cells that had been purified by gradient centrifugation and magnetic-bead adhesion, we observed deuterium enrichment, a finding consistent with a ribosomal RNA production rate of about 7%/day, despite the slow division rates observed in concurrent DNA-labeling analysis. Similarly, in 2 patients with malignant infiltration of lymph nodes, administration of [6,6-(2)H(2)]-glucose (by intravenous infusion for 24 h) before excision biopsy allowed estimation of DNA and RNA turnover in lymph node samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results demonstrate the proof-of-principle that deuterium-labeled glucose may be used to analyze RNA turnover, in addition to DNA production/cell proliferation, in clinical samples. [less ▲]

Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry

in Clinical Chemistry (2008), 54(12), 2036-2041

BACKGROUND: Neonatal screening programs for sickle cell disease are now widespread in North American and European countries. Most programs apply isoelectric focusing or HPLC to detect hemoglobin variants ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Neonatal screening programs for sickle cell disease are now widespread in North American and European countries. Most programs apply isoelectric focusing or HPLC to detect hemoglobin variants. Because tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is being used for screening of inherited metabolic disorders and allows protein identification, it was worth testing for hemoglobinopathy screening. METHODS: We minimized sample preparation and analysis times by avoiding prior purification, derivatization, or separation. We developed a tryptic digestion methodology to screen for the main clinically important variants (HbS, HbC, and HbE) and beta-thalassemia. To ensure proper discrimination between homozygote and heterozygote variants, we selected 4 transitions with good signal intensities for each specific peptide and calculated variant/HbA ratios for each. Method validation included intra- and interseries variability, carryover, and limit of detection. We also performed a comparative study with isoelectric focusing results on 2082 specimens. RESULTS: Intraassay imprecision values (CVs) varied between 2.5% and 30.7%. Interassay CVs were between 6.3% and 23.6%. Carryover was <0.03%, and the limit of detection was fixed at 1% of HbS. According to the MS/MS settings (detection of HbS, HbC, HbE, and beta-globin production defects), the comparative study did not yield any discrepant results between the 2 techniques. CONCLUSIONS: MS/MS is a reliable method for hemoglobinopathy neonatal screening. [less ▲]