Abstract

HERNANDEZ, DIMAS  and  UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA. CARACAS. Anticuerpo contra el epítopo galactosil (α 1-3) galactosa (antigal). Utilidad de los niveles séricos en cáncer SÉRICOS EN CÁNCER. Rev. venez. oncol. [online]. 2007, vol.19, n.2, pp.118-128. ISSN 0798-0582.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the serum levels of antiGal and CA 15-3 in patients with breast cancer, and quantify the serum levels of antiGal in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. METHOD: We studied forty five patients with breast cancer, 22 of them with benign lesions, and 69 with other solid tumors, and 37 with hematological malignancies. In breast cancer patients and benign lesions antiGal was quantified by ELISA method using isolated mouse laminin from the tumor EngelbrethHol-Swarm cell line, and CA 15-3. In other solid tumors and hematological malignancies only antiGal levels were measured. RESULTS: The antiGal y CA 15-3 levels were elevated in breast cancer patients (P<0.01), we found high antiGal levels (P<0.01) in the early disease group of patients, but no CA 15-3 levels. There was difference (P<0.01) between positive and negative lymph node group of patients, and there was no difference according estrogen receptor status. There was difference (P<0.01) in levels pre and post-treatment. There were elevated (P<0.01) antiGal levels in the serum of patients with other solid tumors, except prostate and renal cancer, and in hematological malignancies (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The antiGal should contribute to the humoral immunity mechanisms to decrease the invading and metastazing capacity of the human tumor cells. In future studies we should quantify the antiGal serially after treatment, to define its value as a tumor marker, since there is preliminary evidence of its usefulness in early breast cancer when comparing it with CA 15-3.

Keywords : Breast cancer; solid tumors; hematological malignancies; antiGal; CA 15-3.