We found that the measurement of serum (CT) at basal levels and after pentagastrin stimulation was the most reliable method for detection of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), but not for detection of patients who carry the disease while in the pretumorous stage.
Our aim i s to use the cytogenic analysis to identify the phenomenon of genetic instability in patients and family members as a second marker to predict the possibility of neoplastic development. We found that in cultured lymphocyte samples taken from MTC patients, the chromosomes exhibited a relatively higher frequency of spontaneous aberrations (average 10.2 + 3.1% metaphases). The close relatives of three families with high CT levels and surgical neoplastic findings showed such a trait. In lymphocytes of normal persons, chromosome aberrations, usually of chromatid type, are rarely encountered (average about 3.2 + 1.6%). Our studies showed: (1) that patients with MTC have an increased spontaneous chromosomal aberration rate (SCAR), in brief a chromosomal instability (CI); (2) increased chromosomal aberration in family members with multiple endocrine neoplasia type IIa (MEN-IIa) kindreds; (3) such patients with high SCAR should be tested with CT measurement at basal levels and after stimulation; (4) if serum CT is high, thyroidectomy should be considered; (5) if CT is low, the patient should be followed at regular intervals; and (6) SCAR is a useful practical marker; it may be used in screening, especially where pentagastrin studies are impractical, as with children. (5)

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA035040-02
Application #
3172796
Study Section
Experimental Therapeutics Subcommittee 2 (ET)
Project Start
1983-07-01
Project End
1986-12-31
Budget Start
1985-01-01
Budget End
1985-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department
Type
Hospitals
DUNS #
001910777
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Samaan, N A; Draznin, M B; Halpin, R E et al. (1991) Multiple endocrine syndrome type IIb in early childhood. Cancer 68:1832-4
Assaad, S N; Carrasco, C H; Vassilopoulou-Sellin, R et al. (1987) Glucagonoma syndrome. Rapid response following arterial embolization of glucagonoma metastatic to the liver. Am J Med 82:533-5
Samaan, N A; Hickey, R C (1987) Adrenal cortical carcinoma. Semin Oncol 14:292-6
Samaan, N A; Yang, K P (1987) Localization of a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody to calcitonin in rat medullary thyroid carcinoma allografts. Henry Ford Hosp Med J 35:153-6
Samaan, N A; Hickey, R C (1987) Pheochromocytoma. Semin Oncol 14:297-305
Samaan, N A; Schultz, P N; Ordonez, N G et al. (1987) A comparison of thyroid carcinoma in those who have and have not had head and neck irradiation in childhood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 64:219-23
Krizman, D B; Pathak, S; Samaan, N A et al. (1987) Genetic instability in fibroblasts of patients with thyroid cancers (TC). Int J Cancer 39:179-81
Wheeler, W J; Hsu, T C; Tousson, A et al. (1987) Mitotic inhibition and chromosome displacement induced by estradiol in Chinese hamster cells. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 7:235-47
Krizman, D B; Pathak, S; Samaan, N A et al. (1986) Quantitative study of a proposed interstitial del (20p 12.2) in multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN-II). Anticancer Res 6:191-4
Samaan, N A; Schultz, P N; Haynie, T P et al. (1985) Pulmonary metastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma: treatment results in 101 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 60:376-80

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