lactoferrin and Prostatic-Neoplasms

Localised seminal vesicle amyloidosis is relatively infrequent and we present 9 additional cases.. and methods: Those 9 cases were retrospectively retrieved from 803 radical prostatectomies performed between 1995 and 2000 for prostatic adenocarcinoma. In each case, the type of amyloidosis was characterised by immunohistochemistry. Information regarding a possible concurrent disease or prior hormone therapy has been obtained.. The prevalence of amyloidosis of seminal vesicles is lower in our study (1.1%) than in unselected autopsy cases. The prevalence of amyloidosis in patients exposed to prior hormone therapy (LHRH agonist and anti-androgen) was 2% while it reached only 0.9% in those who received no hormone therapy (p>0.3). No patient had systemic amyloidosis and all cases were of non A-A type. Lactoferrin, a glycoprotein produced by normal seminal vesicles, was detected in more than a half of them (5/9).. No association was found between the occurrence of seminal vesicle amyloidosis and occurrence of a prostatic adenocarcinoma, corcomitant systemic disease or exposure to prior hormone therapy. Seminal vesicle amyloidosis is a localised condition without systemic involvement and amyloid deposition is composed mostly of lactoferrin.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Amyloid; Amyloidosis; Androgen Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Combined Modality Therapy; France; Genital Diseases, Male; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Prevalence; Prostatectomy; Prostatic Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Seminal Vesicles

Tumor metastasis is promoted by an immunosuppressive environment. Lactoferrin (Lf) is known to regulate immunological activity in tumor cells and inhibit processes associated with tumor metastasis. A delivery of lactoferrin with docetaxel (DTX) in prostate cancer cells in the form of DTX-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles (DTX-LfNPs) would provide a dual activity wherein the lactoferrin affects metastasis and DTX chemotherapeutically inhibits mitosis and cell division.. DTX-LfNPs were prepared using sol-oil chemistry, and particles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Antiproliferation activity was analyzed in prostate cancer Mat Ly Lu cells. The target localization and efficacy of DTX-LfNPs were studied in an orthotopic prostate cancer induced by Mat Ly Lu cells in a rat model. Biomarkers were estimated using ELISA and biochemical reactions.. DTX was loaded in pure Lf nanoparticles without involving any chemical modification and conjugation, thus when these nanoparticles are delivered in cancer cells both DTX and Lf will be present in biologically active forms. DTX-LfNps exhibit a spherical morphology of dimension of 60 ± 10 nm with DTX Encapsulation Efficiency of 62.06 ± 4.07%. Competition experiments using soluble Lf confirm that DTX-LfNPs enter prostate cancer cells through the Lf receptor. DTX-LfNPs exhibit an improved anti-proliferative activity by 2.5 times compared to DTX. Further, analysis of the bioavailability of the drug in the prostate showed that DTX-LfNPs increased drug bioavailability in the prostate by two times more than the DTX. The analysis of efficacy in the Mat Ly Lu cells-induced orthotopic prostate cancer model showed that DTX-LfNPs significantly enhanced the anti-cancer activity compared to DTX in terms of regression of weight and volume of prostate tissue, the efficacy was confirmed by histochemical analysis. Lf provides synergistic activity along with DTX in inhibiting metastasis as assessed by the reduction of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, TNF alpha, and IFNγ. LfNPs facilitate higher DTX localization along with Lf-mediated protection from DTX-associated toxicity to neutrophils and kidneys as assessed by C-reactive protein, creatinine, and uric acid. Thus, DTX LfNPs show a dual action by enhancing DTX bioavailability in prostate along with Lf-mediated suppression of metastasis as well as DTX-associated toxicity.. In conclusion, DTX-LfNPs enhance the bioavailability of DTX in the prostate along with Lf-assisted improvement in inhibition of tumor metastasis and drug-associated toxicity.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Docetaxel; Drug Carriers; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Nanoparticles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Rats

The use of gene therapy to treat prostate cancer is hampered by the lack of effective nanocarriers that can selectively deliver therapeutic genes to cancer cells. To overcome this, we hypothesize that conjugating lactoferrin, a tumor-targeting ligand, and the diaminobutyric polypropylenimine dendrimer into gold nanocages, followed by complexation with a plasmid DNA, would enhance gene expression and anti-proliferation activity in prostate cancer cells without the use of external stimuli.. Novel gold nanocages bearing lactoferrin and conjugated to diaminobutyric polypropylenimine dendrimer (AuNCs-DAB-Lf) were synthesized and characterized. Following complexation with a plasmid DNA, their gene expression, cellular uptake and anti-proliferative efficacies were evaluated on PC-3 prostate cancer cells.. AuNCs-DAB-Lf was able to complex DNA at conjugate: DNA weight ratios 5:1 onwards. Gene expression was at its highest after treatment with AuNCs-DAB-Lf at a weight ratio of 10:1, as a result of a significant increase in DNA uptake mediated by the conjugate at that ratio in PC-3 cells. Consequently, the anti-proliferative activity of AuNCs-DAB-Lf-DNA encoding TNFα was significantly improved by up to 9-fold compared with DAB dendriplex encoding TNFα.. Lactoferrin-bearing dendrimer-conjugated gold nanocages are highly promising gene delivery systems for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Topics: Dendrimers; DNA; Gene Transfer Techniques; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms

Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Survival; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms; Reactive Oxygen Species

Prostate cancer remains one of the main causes of death for men worldwide. Despite recent advances in cancer treatment, patients develop resistance after an initial period of optimal efficacy. Nowadays, it is accepted that natural compounds can result in health benefits with a preventive or adjuvant effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of curcumin (CU), a bioactive compound in the spice turmeric, and lactoferrin (LF), a natural glycoprotein with immunomodulatory properties, on DU145 and PC3. Prostate cancer cells were cultured with and without LF (175 μM) and CU (2.5 μg/mL and 5 μg/mL), alone and in combination. Cell viability, migration ability, death receptors (DRs), and integrins (α3, β1) gene expression were evaluated, as well as human annexin V quantification and Akt phosphorylation. Differences among cells group, defined according to the treatment used, were assessed with ANOVA. The results showed that the effects of CU and LF are different between the two prostatic cell lines analyzed. In DU145, a reduction in cell proliferation and migration is reported both in the presence of single and combined treatments. In PC3 cells, there is a significant reduction in proliferation in the presence of CU alone, while the inhibition of migration is mainly related to the LF treatment and its combination with CU, compared to untreated cells. Moreover, the reduction in gene expression of integrins and Akt pathway activation were observed mostly in the presence of the CU and LF combination, including the upregulation of DR and annexin V levels, with greater significance for the DU145 cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that CU and LF may have a potentially beneficial effect, mainly when administered in combination, leading to a reduction in cancer cells' aggressiveness.

Topics: Annexin A5; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Curcumin; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms

Gold nanocages have been widely used as multifunctional platforms for drug and gene delivery, as well as photothermal agents for cancer therapy. However, their potential as gene delivery systems for cancer treatment has been reported in combination with chemotherapeutics and photothermal therapy, but not in isolation so far. The purpose of this work was to investigate whether the conjugation of gold nanocages with the cancer targeting ligand lactoferrin, polyethylene glycol and polyethylenimine could lead to enhanced transfection efficiency on prostate cancer cells in vitro, without assistance of external stimulation.. Novel lactoferrin-bearing gold nanocages conjugated to polyethylenimine and polyethylene glycol have been synthesized and characterized. Their transfection efficacy and cytotoxicity were assessed on PC-3 prostate cancer cell line following complexation with a plasmid DNA.. Lactoferrin-bearing gold nanocages, alone or conjugated with polyethylenimine and polyethylene glycol, were able to condense DNA at conjugate:DNA weight ratios 5:1 and higher. Among all gold conjugates, the highest gene expression was obtained following treatment with gold complex conjugated with polyethylenimine and lactoferrin, at weight ratio 40:1, which was 1.71-fold higher than with polyethylenimine. This might be due to the increased DNA cellular uptake observed with this conjugate, by up to 8.65-fold in comparison with naked DNA.. Lactoferrin-bearing gold nanocages conjugates are highly promising gene delivery systems to prostate cancer cells.

Topics: DNA; Drug Carriers; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genetic Therapy; Gold; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Plasmids; Polyethylene Glycols; Polyethyleneimine; Prostatic Neoplasms; Transfection

Lactoferrin (LTF) is an iron-binding protein canonically known for its innate and adaptive immune functions. LTF may also act as a tumor suppressor with antiproliferative action. LTF is inactivated genetically or epigenetically in various cancers, and a CpG island spanning the transcriptional start site of LTF is hypermethylated in prostate cancer cell lines. We, therefore, hypothesized that LTF expression is silenced via CpG island hypermethylation in the early stages of prostate tumorigenesis carcinogenesis. Targeted methylation analysis was performed using a combination of methylated-DNA precipitation and methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes, and laser-capture microdissection followed by bisulfite sequencing on DNA isolated from prostate tissue samples, including both primary and metastatic disease. LTF mRNA in situ hybridization and LTF protein immunohistochemistry were also performed. We report that the LTF CpG island is frequently and densely methylated in high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, primary prostate carcinoma, and metastases. We further report a decoupling of lactoferrin mRNA and protein expression, including in lesions where LTF mRNA has presumably been silenced via CpG island methylation. We conclude that LTF mRNA expression is silenced in prostate tumorigenesis via hypermethylation, supporting a role for LTF as a prostate cancer tumor suppressor gene. Likewise, the frequency at which the LTF CpG island is methylated across samples suggests it is an important and conserved step in prostate cancer initiation.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Carcinogenesis; Cell Line, Tumor; CpG Islands; Disease Progression; DNA Methylation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Neoplasm Staging; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Prostatic Neoplasms; RNA, Messenger

The possibility of using gene therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer is limited by the lack of intravenously administered delivery systems able to safely and selectively deliver therapeutic genes to tumors. Given that lactoferrin (Lf) receptors are overexpressed on prostate cancer cells, we hypothesized that the conjugation of Lf to generation 3-diaminobutyric polypropylenimine dendrimer would improve its transfection and therapeutic efficacy in prostate cancer cells. In this study, we demonstrated that the intravenous administration of Lf-bearing DAB dendriplexes encoding TNFα resulted in the complete suppression of 70% of PC-3 and 50% of DU145 tumors over one month. Treatment with DAB-Lf dendriplex encoding TRAIL led to tumor suppression of 40% of PC-3 tumors and 20% of DU145 tumors. The treatment was well tolerated by the animals. Lf-bearing generation 3-polypropylenimine dendrimer is therefore a highly promising delivery system for non-viral gene therapy of prostate cancer.

Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Genetic Therapy; Humans; Interleukin-12; Lactoferrin; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Polypropylenes; Prostatic Neoplasms; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

To investigate the biological effects of exogenous lactoferrin (LF) on phenotypic profile and invasiveness of human prostate cancer (PC) cells in vitro.. Human PC cell lines (LNCaP, DU-145) were cultured with an exogenous LF at a dose corresponding to IC30. The expression levels of steroid hormone receptors (androgen receptor, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor), Her2/neu, Ki-67, E- and N-cadherin, were monitored by immunohistochemical analysis. The levels of miRNAs were assessed using q-PCR. The invasive activity of the cells was examined in a standard invasion test.. Exogenous LF reduced expression of steroid hormone receptors (ERα and PR) and Ki-67 in both PC cell lines. The expression of E-cadherin increased significantly in LF-treated DU-145 cells. Also, we established the decrease in invasive activity upon LF treatment by 40% and 30% in DU-145 and LNCaP cells, respectively. In DU-145 cells, incubation with exogenous LF resulted in an increase in the expression of oncosuppressive (miR-133a and miR-200b) miRNAs.. Exogenous LF causes the changes in phenotypic characteristics of PC cells and levels of oncogenic and oncosuppressive miRNAs involved in the regulation of key cellular processes.

Topics: Cadherins; Cell Line, Tumor; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Ki-67 Antigen; Lactoferrin; Male; MicroRNAs; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Prostatic Neoplasms; Receptor, ErbB-2; Receptors, Androgen

Advanced, metastatic, castration resistant and chemo-resistant prostate cancer has triggered change in the drug development landscape against prostate cancer. Bovine lactoferrin (bLf) is currently attracting attention in clinics for its anti-cancer properties and proven safety profile. bLf internalises into cancer cells via receptor mediated endocytosis, boosts immunity and complements chemotherapy. We employed bLf as an excellent functional carrier protein for delivering doxorubicin (Dox) into DU145 cells, CD44+/EpCAM+ double positive enriched DU145 3D prostaspheres and drug resistant ADR1000-DU145 cells, thus circumventing Dox efflux, to overcome chemo-resistance. Successful bLf-Dox conjugation with iron free or iron saturated bLf forms did not affect the integrity and functionality of bLf and Dox. bLf-Dox internalised into DU145 cells within 6 h, enhanced nuclear Dox retention up to 24 h, and proved significantly effective (p < 0.001) in reducing LC50 value of Dox from 5.3 μM to 1.3 μM (4 fold). Orally fed iron saturated bLf-Dox inhibited tumour development, prolonged survival, reduced Dox induced general toxicity, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity in TRAMP mice and upregulated serum levels of anti-cancer molecules TNF-α, IFN-γ, CCL4 and CCL17. The study identifies promising potential of a novel and safer bLf-Dox conjugate containing a conventional cytotoxic drug along with bLf protein to target drug resistance.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Apoptosis; Cattle; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemokine CCL17; Chemokine CCL4; Doxorubicin; Drug Carriers; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Drug Synergism; Interferon-gamma; Iron; Lactoferrin; Male; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Neoplasm Proteins; Prostatic Neoplasms; Spheroids, Cellular; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Fatigue can be defined as an unpleasant feeling of tiredness, weakness and lack of energy. It is found in about 80% of the patients receiving radiation therapy and has a significant impact on quality of life. The aim of this paper was to assess the frequency, severity and changes of fatigue before, during and after administration of a nutraceutical (mixture of whey protein with an high biological value, with an high content in native cysteine, albumin and lactoferrin in patients undergoing treatment for breast and prostate cancer.. Thirty patients (20 breast and 10 prostate ones) were enrolled in our test and they received a questionnaire about Fatigue developed by the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1999. The patients who achieved a score between 4 and 6 were administered the nutraceutical (Prother) at a dose of 20 g / day for the first 10 days of radiation treatment and then 10 g/day for the following 20 days without considering the terms of the radiation oncology treatment [corrected]. Each patient was reassessed using the same Fatigue test after 10 and 30 days from the start of the administration of nutraceutical. We enrolled 30 control patients who did not receive Prother.. The results showed the effectiveness of Prother in all patients with moderate-to-mild fatigue.. The administration of Prother has therefore been effective in terms of both improving the compliance of the radiation treatment and the quality of life.

Topics: Albumins; Breast Neoplasms; Cysteine; Dietary Supplements; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Milk Proteins; Prostatic Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Whey Proteins

Corpora amylacea (CA) are a frequent microscopic finding in radical prostatectomy specimens from men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Although often observed histologically to be associated with inflammation, the contribution of CA to prostatitis-related symptoms of unknown etiology or to prostate carcinogenesis remains unclear. Prostatic calculi (PC), which potentially represent calcified forms of CA, are less common but can cause urological disease including urinary retention and prostatitis. We conducted a comprehensive compositional analysis of CA/PC to gain insight into their biogenesis. Infrared spectroscopy analysis of calculi collected from 23 patients confirmed a prevalence of calcium phosphate in the form of hydroxyapatite. This result sets PC apart from most urinary stones, which largely are composed of calcium oxalate. Tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of CA/PC revealed that lactoferrin is the predominant protein component, a result that was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Other proteins identified, including calprotectin, myeloperoxidase, and alpha-defensins, are proteins contained in neutrophil granules. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) suggested the source of lactoferrin to be prostate-infiltrating neutrophils as well as inflamed prostate epithelium; however, IHC for calprotectin suggested prostate-infiltrating neutrophils as a major source of the protein, because it was absent from other prostate compartments. This study represents a definitive analysis of the protein composition of prostatic CA and calculi and suggests that acute inflammation has a role in their biogenesis--an intriguing finding, given the prevalence of CA in prostatectomy specimens and the hypothesized role for inflammation in prostate carcinogenesis.

Topics: Acute-Phase Proteins; Calcium Phosphates; Durapatite; Humans; Inflammation; Lactoferrin; Male; Prostatic Diseases; Prostatic Neoplasms; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Acute proctitis and chronic radiation proctitis are relevant complications of pelvic radiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate two markers of gut inflammation during and after irradiation for prostate cancer to evaluate a correlation between acute and chronic proctitis.. Two patient groups were analysed. In group 1, stool samples from 20 patients were collected before therapy, every week during therapy, at the end of therapy, and 13 and 27 months after therapy. Group 2 comprised 47 patients who had undergone irradiation 40 months earlier. Toxicity was determined by common toxicity criteria (CTC) and the LENT soma scale. Calprotectin and lactoferrin values were determined by ELISA.. In group 1, acute values for both faecal markers were significantly correlated with chronic proctitis symptoms and all patients with chronic toxicity had acute proctitis symptoms with elevated faecal values. In group 2, where stool samples were solely collected 40 months after irradiation, the Pearson square test showed both a significant correlation between calprotectin and lactoferrin values and toxicity after 40 months.. Within a group of 19 patients followed for two years after irradiation for prostate cancer, and 47 patients tested 40 months after irradiation, increased faecal values of calprotectin and lactoferrin were significantly correlated with the occurrence of chronic proctitis. This observation should be confirmed in an expanded study.

Topics: Aged; Biomarkers; Feces; Humans; Lactoferrin; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; Male; Proctitis; Prospective Studies; Prostatic Neoplasms; Radiation Injuries

Acute radiation proctitis is a relevant complication of pelvic radiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate two markers of gut inflammation as non-invasive diagnostic tools to evaluate acute radiation proctitis.. Twenty patients who underwent radiotherapy for prostate cancer took part in this prospective study. Radiation-induced toxicity was evaluated weekly during radiotherapy in compliance with the CTC toxicity criteria. Stool samples from patients were examined before treatment, weekly during radiotherapy and 2 weeks after the end of radiotherapy using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for calprotectin and lactoferrin and correlated with the CTC toxicity.. Calprotectin and lactoferrin faecal values increased significantly during radiation treatment and decreased about 2 weeks after cessation of radiation. Faecal concentrations of calprotectin and lactoferrin correlated with the documented radiation proctitis symptoms (all grades together) in 15/20 patients (75%). With respect to changes in faecal concentrations and correspondence to proctitis symptoms, both markers showed parallel results in 90% of the patients. On comparing calprotectin and lactoferrin concentrations between the 4th week of radiation and the 1st week, it was found that patients with any grade of toxicity exhibited a significantly higher increase in calprotectin (p = 0.044) and lactoferrin (p = 0.05), respectively, compared with those without toxicity.. Calprotectin and lactoferrin faecal values changed during radiation treatment and after cessation of radiation, with correlation to acute proctitis symptoms in most of the patients. Before markers are used to monitor acute radiation proctitis, further experience should be acquired. Patients will be followed to determine the predictive value of the two tested markers for chronic radiation proctitis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Biomarkers; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces; Humans; Lactoferrin; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; Male; Monitoring, Physiologic; Proctitis; Prospective Studies; Prostatic Neoplasms; Radiation Injuries

Cancer cells gain selection advantages by the coordinated silencing of protective and by the activation of cell proliferation/cell survival genes. Evaluations of epithelial cell transcriptome of benign and malignant prostate glands by laser capture microdissection (LCM) identified Lactotransferrin (LTF) as the most significantly downregulated gene in prostate cancer (CaP) cells (p < 10(-6)). Frequent downregulation, significant association of LTF with PSA recurrence-free survival in CaP patients and the established anti-tumorigenic effects of LTF in experimental cancer models have provided impetus to evaluate LTF expression features and mechanisms in CaP specimens.. LTF mRNA expression analysis was performed in LCM derived benign and malignant prostate epithelial cells by using Affymetrix GeneChip and QRT-PCR. LTF protein expression was assessed in tissue specimens by immunohistochemistry and in serum samples from CaP patients compared to healthy male control by using ELISA. Mechanism of LTF downregulation was analyzed in 5-azadeoxycytidine treated LNCaP and LAPC4 cells using MALDI-TOF MS. Proliferation and cell cycle analysis of CaP cells by FACS flow cytrometry was assessed in LNCaP cell cultures.. Quantitative analysis of LTF mRNA expression in tumor cells revealed marked downregulation of LTF with significant associations to decreased PSA recurrence-free survival of CaP patients (n = 100, p < or = 0.0322). Moreover, low levels of LTF protein expression was observed in tumor tissues as well as in sera from CaP patients (p < or = 0.0001). LTF promoter downstream CpG island methylation was found in LNCaP and LAPC4 cells. Furthermore, replenishing of LTF by supplementing growth media with LTF protein resulted in reduced cell growth. Cell cycle analysis revealed robust increases in apoptosis in response to LTF treatment.. This study highlights the potential for LTF in chemoprevention and to become a biologically relevant prognostic marker of CaP, suggesting that silencing of the LTF gene may be causally linked to CaP progression.

Topics: Apoptosis; Disease Progression; DNA Methylation; G1 Phase; Gene Silencing; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Prostatic Neoplasms; RNA, Messenger

Non-invasive diagnostic tools to evaluate the severity of acute, radiation-induced proctitis are not readily available. The faecal excretion of eight markers of gut inflammation was therefore examined. Five proteins and three lipid derivates were analysed in sequential stool samples taken before and during radiation therapy.. Stool samples from 15 patients with prostate cancer scheduled for radiation therapy were examined. Pretreatment and in-treatment samples (2nd and 6th weeks) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (calprotectin, lactoferrin, transferrin, leukotriene B4, prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2 and TNF alpha) or nephelometry (alpha 1-antitrypsin).. Calprotectin and lactoferrin concentrations increased significantly during radiation treatment (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.019). Transferrin was detected in only 9 out of 45 samples. There were no changes in tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), leukotriene B4, prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 during treatment. alpha 1-antitrypsin could not be detected in any sample.. This study indicates that faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin concentrations could be markers of acute, radiation-induced proctitis. Patient compliance and stability of the markers make this a promising method for clinical research. Eicosanoids could be measured in stool samples, but the concentrations did not increase with increasing radiation dose.

Topics: Acute Disease; Aged; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Biomarkers; Dinoprostone; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Feces; Humans; Lactoferrin; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; Leukotriene B4; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Proctitis; Prostatic Neoplasms; Radiation Injuries; Transferrin; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Using immunoperoxidase procedures, the presence of lactoferrin was investigated in benign hypertrophy (40 cases), differentiated adenocarcinomas (20 cases) and undifferentiated carcinomas (10 cases) of the prostate. In benign hypertrophy, the glandular epithelium and the secretory product were consistently negative. Strong staining for lactoferrin was always observed in neoplastic cells of differentiated adenocarcinomas and in their endoluminal material; in contrast, a very slight positivity was noted in undifferentiated carcinomas. These findings are discussed in relation to the different degree of neoplastic glandular differentiation and functional activity of prostatic carcinomas.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Carcinoma; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Male; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms

Lactoferrin levels have been determined by radialimmunodiffusion in homogenates of both human benign prostatic hypertrophy obtained at open surgery from patients, some of whom had been treated with oestrogens or antiandrogens, and also in prostatic adenocarcinoma tissue removed by transurethral resection. Results show that in untreated benign prostatic hyperplasia there is a statistically lower lactoferrin level in the median compared with the lateral lobes. In patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy treated before prostatectomy with oestrogens or antiandrogens the lactoferrin concentration is decreased. In neoplastic tissue removed by open surgery, the lactoferrin level is very low. Homogenates of tissue resected from prostatic cancer patients show similarly low levels. The concentration of lactoferrin in human prostate is hormone dependent. The role of the protein is considered to be bacteriostatic.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Androgen Antagonists; Estrogens; Humans; Hyperplasia; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Male; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms