Studies from J. Ellinger et al add new findings in the area of testicular cancer
2009 JUL 27 - (NewsRx.com) -- In this recent report, researchers in Bonn, Germany conducted a study "To analyse the diagnostic and prognostic value of cell-free mitochondrial (mt) DNA in patients with testicular cancer, as increased levels of cell-free circulating mtDNA have been reported in patients with cancer. In all, 74 patients with testicular cancer (seminoma in 39, nonseminoma in 35) and 35 healthy individuals were included in the study." "Circulating DNA was isolated from 1 mL of serum. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyse the levels of a 79-bp (mtDNA-79) and 220 bp (mtDNA-220) fragment of the mitochondrial specific 16S-RNA. The mtDNA integrity was expressed as the ratio of mtDNA-220 to mtDNA-79. mtDNA-79 and mtDNA-220 levels were significantly (P < 0.001) greater in patients with testicular cancer than in healthy individuals. The mtDNA integrity was similar in patients and healthy controls (P = 0.435). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed that cell-free mtDNA (mtDNA-79) levels distinguished, with a sensitivity of 59.5% and a specificity of 94.3%, between patients and healthy individuals (area under curve, 0.787). Also, mtDNA-79 levels could be used to distinguish between patients (31) with conventional markers (alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotrophin, placental alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase) within normal ranges and healthy individuals, with a sensitivity of 64.5% and specificity of 91.4% (area under curve 0.797). Cell-free mtDNA levels were not correlated with any clinicopathological variable (pT stage, lymph node invasion, vascular invasion, clinical stage, International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group classification, tumour markers; all P> 0.05)," wrote J. Ellinger and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Cell-free mtDNA levels are greater in patients with testicular cancer and might provide valuable information for managing patients with testicular anomalies, especially those with normal levels of established tumour markers." Ellinger and colleagues published their study in Bju International (Circulating mitochondrial DNA in the serum of patients with testicular germ cell cancer as a novel noninvasive diagnostic biomarker. Bju International, 2009;104(1):48-52). For additional information, contact J. Ellinger, University of Klinikum Bonn, Klin & Poliklin Urology, Sigmund Freud Str 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany. Publisher contact information for the journal Bju International is: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc., Commerce Place, 350 Main St., Malden 02148, MA, USA. Keywords: Germany, Bonn, DNA, Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Enzyme Research, Germ Cell Cancer, Germ Cell Carcinoma, Oncology, Polymerase, Seminoma, Testicular Cancer, Testicular Diseases. This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.
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