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We sought to determine whether cytokine expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is altered in patients with preeclampsia and in patients with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Twenty-four patients with preeclampsia and twenty patients with a history of RSA were included into the study. Two control groups consisted of twenty healthy pregnant and twenty healthy non-pregnant women. The intracellular expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by flow cytometry as a measure of cytokine production. IL-2 synthesis was significantly elevated in the third trimester in preeclamptic patients in comparison with the control group. Non-pregnant women with RSA showed a significantly lower expression of IFN-γ compared to the non-pregnant control group. Our data suggest an abnormal immune response in preeclamptic patients characterised by a shift to a predominantly Th1-type immunity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study was performed to investigate the hypermethylation status of the PTEN gene in ovarian cancer. To this end, we incubated eight ovarian cancer cell lines with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2′ deoxycytidine in three different concentrations for 5 days. Subsequently, the PTEN expression was quantified by both real time RT-PCR and quantitative western analyses. PTEN mRNA varied considerably in response to demethylation whereas PTEN protein concentrations remained constant in all cell lines except OAW42 cells (12.5%). The data suggest that PTEN is highly regulated at translational level. However, methylation of the PTEN gene plays a subordinate role in ovarian cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study was designed to investigate the value of tumor M2 pyruvate kinase (tumor M2-PK) determination as an early marker for response to trastuzumab therapy in patients with metastasized breast cancer.Plasma samples of 20 trastuzumab patients were collected immediately after standard hematological investigations. The tumor M2-PK level was quantified using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ScheBo® Biotech) and CA 15-3 was measured automatically using the Bayer Immuno 1™ immunoanalyzer and the corresponding assay. Each assay was performed in duplicate. The values were analyzed for correlation to the clinical course of each patient.Median observation time was 13 months with a range from 4 to 22 months. In 17/20 (85%) patients, tumor M2-PK determination was a marker for the clinical course of their disease. In this ‘tumor M2-PK sensitive’ group, 49 known clinical events (remission or progression according to UICC criteria) were recorded. The variation in tumor M2-PK level paralleled 63% of the clinical events (31/49).Our data suggest that tumor M2-PK determination in the plasma of patients with metastasized breast cancer could be a helpful tool for monitoring therapeutic success. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]