Biomolecular analysis of matrix proteoglycans as biomarkers in non small cell lung cancer.

Matrix proteoglycans (PGs) have shown promise as biomarker in malignancies. We employed agarose gel eletrophoresis, quantitative real- time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry to evaluate the content of sulfated glicosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate) and expression of PG (biglycan, glypican, perlecan, syndecan e versican) in patient-matched normal and tumor tissues obtained from resected specimens of lung cancer. A significant increase of heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) concentrations was found in tumor tissue samples when compared to normal lung tissue samples. HS was also significantly increased in adenocarcinomas compared to squamous cell carcinomas. PG gene expression, with exception of syndecan, were significantly decreased in tumor tissue compared to normal lung, coinciding with significant decrease of PG protein levels in tumor cells and stroma compared to normal lung tissue (Kappa coefficient 0.41, 0.42 and 0,28, respectively). Women patients (p = 0.02), non smokers (p = 0.05), T stage (p = 0.009), N stage (p = 0.03) and adenocarcinoma (p = 0.05) were associated with improved overall survival (OS). Patients presenting tumors with low concentration of sulfated GAG and high PGs levels presented better OS compared to patients with high concentration of sulfated GAG and low expression of PGs. Cox regression model controlled by gender, tobacco history and histological type, showed that patients with high perlecan and versican expression in tumor presented respectively high probability of life (ß risk 11.64; 1.27 to 15.90) and low risk of death (ß risk 0.11; 0.02-0.51). The combined approach suggest matrix (PGs) as biomarkers in lung cancer.

Isoforms of hyaluronidases can be a predictor of a prostate cancer of good prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Hyaluronidases (HAases) are enzymes related to cancer progression. Isoforms of HAases have been described as products of alternative splicing responsible for differences in enzyme activity. The heterogeneity of HAase expression has been identified in tumors and could be related to the differences in their biological behavior. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients subjected to radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer were divided into 2 groups for the analyses: Low (< or =6-18) and high (> or =7-19) Gleason score and tumor behavior; recurrence 15 and nonrecurrence 22, mean follow-up 52.6 months. CONCLUSION: A profile of HAase related to low Gleason score and non-tumor recurrence was characterized by expression of HYAL3-v1, HYAL1-v3, and HYAL3-v2. More studies should be made in order to confirm with larger series.