Back to Search Start Over

Tumour-specific induction of immune complexes: DCP-IgM in hepatocellular carcinoma

Authors :
Andrea Gallotta
Giancarlo Pesce
Noéli Boscato
Alessandra Biasiolo
Giorgio Fassina
Patrizia Pontisso
N. Tono
L. Beneduce
Angelo Gatta
F. Zampieri
Source :
European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 38:571-577
Publication Year :
2008
Publisher :
Wiley, 2008.

Abstract

Background In the sera of liver, colorectal and prostate cancer patients, several biomarkers may be detected as IgM immune complexes. To determine whether the presence of immune complexes was correlated to an increase of IgMs, we measured the IgM content in the sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis, and evaluated the occurrence of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) as immune complexes (DCP-IgM) compared to the levels of DCP and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Patients and methods Serum samples from 31 patients with cirrhosis, 33 untreated HCC patients diagnosed by ultrasound, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance and confirmed by histopathology, when indicated, and 30 healthy controls were analysed. Concentrations of IgM and DCP-IgM were determined by ELISAs. Results Circulating IgM in patients with HCC (median level = 1·79 mg mL−1) and cirrhosis (1·09 mg mL−1) were not significantly different (P = 0·1376) while DCP-IgM were significantly higher in HCC patients (median level = 2171·2 AU mL−1) than in those with cirrhosis (1152 AU mL−1, P = 0·0047). No correlation was found between DCP-IgM and IgM in HCC (r = 0·227) and cirrhosis patients (r = 0·475). DPC-IgM was positive in 55% (18/33) of HCC patients and in 26% (8/31) of cirrhosis patients compared to 39% and 26% for DCP and 48% and 13% for AFP. DCP-IgM, DCP and AFP tests had 100% specificity in healthy controls. Conclusions DCP-IgM in HCC patients was not associated with an increase in IgM concentration. DCP-IgM was more frequently detected in HCC patients than DCP and AFP, strengthening the diagnostic role of IgM immune complexes for liver cancer.

Details

ISSN :
13652362 and 00142972
Volume :
38
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
European Journal of Clinical Investigation
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....e6bbc85f0a9665c83bd723ee9cce8c8d
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2008.01985.x