Jose-Luis Balibrea

Correlations of telomere length, telomerase activity, and telomeric-repeat binding factor 1 expression in colorectal carcinoma

Telomere maintenance has been proposed as an essential step for tumor cell immortalization. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the mechanisms implicated in telomere length in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and to evaluate the prognostic impact of telomere status.

Use of the copper/zinc ratio in the diagnosis of lung cancer

Serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and the Cu/Zn ratio were evaluated in 84 patients with pulmonary lesions before surgery and in 100 healthy normal controls. There were 20 patients with benign and 64 with malignant lung tumors. Only the mean (± SD) Cu/Zn ratio was significantly higher in malignant tumors (2.24 ± 0.78) than in benign tissue (1.63 ± 033) (P < 0.001). In the normal group, the Cu/Zn ratio was significantly lower (1.43 ± 0.29). Patients with advanced disease (Stage III) had higher Cu/Zn ratio than patients in Stages I and II (2.65 ± 0.86 versus 1.9 ± 0.27) (P < 0.001). At a cutoff value of 1.72, Cu/Zn ratio had a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 84%, positive predictive value of 78%, and negative predictive value of 92% between controls and lung cancer patients. Between lung cancer patients and patients with benign pulmonary lesions the aforementioned values were 89%, 70%, 90%, and 70% respectively. A correlation between increasing Cu/Zn ratio and tumor extension and postoperative survival was observed. These findings suggest that Cu/Zn ratio may be used as a diagnostic test in lung cancer patients.

Cooperative role of telomerase activity and p16 expression in the prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Telomerase activity and p16 expression can be considered two of the most important molecular markers implicated in tumorigenesis. Our main aim was to study the cooperative role of both molecular alterations in the prognosis of patients surgically resected for non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have determined telomerase activity and p16 expression in a series of 98 prospectively collected NSCLC specimens obtained from patients who had undergone surgery without other treatment. Telomerase activity was investigated by a telomeric repeat amplification protocol enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay–based procedure, and p16 expression was examined by Western blot. Associations with survival were evaluated. RESULTS: Positive results for telomerase activity were found in 82% of the cases, and this variable correlated with poor differentiation and recurrence of tumors. Lack of p16 expression was observed in 61% of tumors, and a significant association with tumor recurrence was also ...

Evaluation of serum ca 125 as a tumor marker in non-small cell lung cancer

Serum CA 125 levels were evaluated in 130 healthy subjects and 133 patients with untreated pulmonary lesions. These were 33 patients with benign pulmonary conditions and 100 with lung cancer. The mean concentration of CA 125 was higher in patients with lung cancer (37 ± 81 U/ml) than in those with nonmalignant disease (4.2 ± 5.7 U/ml) (P < 0.01). In the healthy control group CA 125 concentrations were significantly lower (0.63 ± 1.5 U/ml) (P < 0.001). In patients with lung cancer the concentration of this tumor marker was related to the tumornode‐metastasis (TNM) stage. At a cut‐off value of 15 U/ml, CA 125 had a sensitivity of 44%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 65% with respect to healthy subjects; in patients with benign pulmonary conditions, these values were 44%, 94%, 94%, and 31%, respectively. At this cut‐off value, a correlation between the respectability prognosis and the likehood of survival 24 months posttreatment was observed. These findings suggest that CA 125 can be used as an adjunctive test in the management of patients with lung cancer patients.

Loss of Heterozygosity at 3p23 Is Correlated with Poor Survival in Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosome 3p has been observed commonly in carcinomas of various tumor tissues, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Because there is no report analyzing 3p deletions in relation to patient prognosis in CRC, the authors investigated the prognostic value of LOH on 3p in 87 patients with sporadic CRC.