El-Akawi Zeyad J, Abu-Awad Aymen M, Khouri Nabil A
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan.
Princess Iman Center of Research and Laboratory Sciences, King Hussein Medical Center, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan.
World J Oncol. 2013 Apr;4(2):83-86. doi: 10.4021/wjon663e. Epub 2013 May 6.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (α-AT) is a member of the serine protease inhibitors (serpins) family. Liver cells are the major source of synthesis and secretion of (α-AT) into the blood. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that α-AT is expressed and secreted by many types of malignant cells. Studies have indicated that serum levels of (α-AT) increase in a good number of malignant diseases. In addition, a significant correlation between serum levels and cancer stage has also been reported. In this work we aimed to test how α-AT levels behave at the third week after treatment with chemotherapy.
The α-AT blood levels were measured using commercially available radial immunodiffusion kit (Kent Laboratory Inc, Bellinham, Washigton) following manufacturer instructions.
The α-AT blood levels were significantly decreased after treatment compared with those before the treatment started. The mean difference (before - after) treatment was 127.82 and 137.37 mg/dL with 95% CI of difference 109.06 - 146.57 and 116.08 - 158.65 mg/dL in lung and prostate cancer respectively. When we compared these levels according to the stage of cancer, we found that the mean difference (before - after) treatment was also highly significant as indicated by P-value and the 95% CI of these differences.
Obtained data strongly indicate the value of testing α-AT blood levels as one of the important indicators for the efficacy of cancer treatment.
α-1抗胰蛋白酶（α-AT）是丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂（丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂家族）家族的一员。肝细胞是合成并分泌α-AT入血的主要来源。此外，已证实多种恶性细胞可表达并分泌α-AT。研究表明，许多恶性疾病患者的血清α-AT水平会升高。另外，也有报道称血清水平与癌症分期之间存在显著相关性。在本研究中，我们旨在检测化疗治疗三周后α-AT水平的变化情况。
按照制造商说明，使用市售的放射免疫扩散试剂盒（肯特实验室公司，华盛顿州贝灵汉）测量α-AT血液水平。
与治疗开始前相比，治疗后α-AT血液水平显著降低。肺癌和前列腺癌治疗前后的平均差异分别为127.82和137.37mg/dL，差异的95%置信区间分别为109.06 - 146.57mg/dL和116.08 - 158.65mg/dL。当我们根据癌症分期比较这些水平时，发现治疗前后的平均差异同样具有高度显著性，这由P值和这些差异的95%置信区间表明。
所获数据有力地表明检测α-AT血液水平作为癌症治疗疗效重要指标之一的价值。
