[Phenotyping of angiotensin-converting enzyme in the prostate in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia].

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is expressed by all epithelial cells of the human body. Although the main proportion of ACE is synthesized by the lungs, in men, ACE is also secreted by the testes (testicular form), seminal vesicles and the prostate. In semen, the level of ACE is up to 50 times higher than in blood plasma. The substitution of highly specific epithelial cells of the prostate by tumor cells causes a dramatic decrease in ACE production by the prostate cells. AIM: To assess the possibility of using prostatic ACE as a new marker of prostate cancer (PCa). MATERIALS AND METHODS: ACE phenotyping in prostate of patients with PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) included measurement of the activity of two ACE substrates (HHL and ZPHL); calculation of the ratio of their hydrolysis rates (ZPHL/HHL ratio); quantitative assessment of the ACE immunoreactive protein, the ratio of the immunoreactive protein to the ACE activity, as well as the conformation of ACE using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to different epitopes of ACE. RESULTS: ACE activity in tumor cells was markedly reduced and the ratio of immunoreactive ACE to its activity increased. The ratio of the hydrolysis rates of two substrates (ZPHL/HHL ratio) in patients with PCa increased compared to control group, while it was not observed in the vast majority of patients with BPH. There were several tissue samples with a histological diagnosis of BPH, but ACE phenotype was typical for PCa. DISCUSSION: Since a decrease in ACE activity was found in all patients with PCa, we suggest that it may serve as a reliable and early marker of the tumor development. Changes in the ACE phenotype, which are typical for PCa, but found in patients with BPH, may indicate earlier malignant changes in prostate cells, which are not visible on routine prostate biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: ACE activity and its conformation in prostatic biopsies has the potential to be an early biomarker or a differential criterion for PCa. In PCa, the ACE activity in the prostate is significantly reduced, and the ZPHL/HHL ratio is markedly increased in comparison to control group. However, there were no such changes in patients with BPH. In hyperplastic processes of the prostate (BPH, PCa), there is a change in ACE sialylation, which is accompanied by an increase in the binding of ACE to mAb 3F10 compared to the control group. Patients with negative biopsy result, but properties of prostate ACE, which are typical for PCa, require close follow-up, since they may have an increased risk of subsequent developing PCa. However, due to a small sample of patients, the diagnostic potential of prostate ACE for PCa and BPH requires to be validated in a larger number of patients to confirm its predictive accuracy.

[Biomarkers of prostate cancer and potential for using ace produced in prostate gland for diagnosis of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the 4th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the male population and incidence of different stages is increasing every year. The efficiency of PCa treatment is strongly dependent on the its stage. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is the most widely used and universal biomarker of PCa worldwide. Considering its limited predictive value, particularly in patients older than 50 with PSA level ranging from 4.5 to 10 ng/ml, there is a need to introduce new serum biomarkers of PCa. Current data on different PCa biomarkers are reviewed in the article as well as a role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) as a novel PCa biomarker.

[The use of NefroDoz in patients with urolithiasis who underwent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy].

The article presents the results of the multicenter clinical comparative open-label trial in three parallel groups, which was aimed to the evaluation of the efficacy and safety ofbiologically active food supplement NefroDoz after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in patients with urolithiasis. NefroDoz was prescribed for the lithokinetic purpose. The study involved 114 patients from different regions of the Russian Federation aged from 18 to 75 years (mean age 45.56 +/- 12.49 years) with a diagnosis of urolithiasis who underwent ESWL. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type oftreatment. Evaluation of the effectiveness was performed using data from a blood test, urine analysis, and biochemical blood assay, ultrasound and KUB X-ray. The results showed that NefroDoz has diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and lithokinetic effects, and is effective and safe drug for the patients with urolithiasis who underwent ESWL.