title: Retinol-binding protein, acute phase reactants and Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the serum levels of c-reactive protein (CRP), transferrin (TRF), a2-macroglobulin (A2M), ceruloplasmin (CER), a1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), pre-albumin (P-ALB) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) in gastric carcinoma patients and to explore their possible correlation with underlying Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the serum levels of CRP, TRF, A2M, CER, AAG, P-ALB, and RBP in 153 preoperative patients (93 males; mean age: 63.1+/-11.3 years) with non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma and 19 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of CRP, CER, RBP, and AAG in cancer patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P<0.0001), while no difference was found regarding the TRF, P-ALB, and A2M levels. Cancer patients with H pylori infection had significantly lower RBP values compared to non-infected ones (P<0.0001) and also higher values of CRP and AAG (P = 0.09 and P = 0.08, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High serum levels of CRP, CER and AAG in cancer patients do not seem to be related to H pylori infection. Retinol-binding protein seems to discriminate between infected and non-infected patients with gastric carcinoma. Further studies are needed to explore if it is directly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease or is merely an epiphenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Patophysiology, "Laiko" University Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsavaris
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kosmas
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kopterides
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsikalakis
authors.forename: Hlias
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skopelitis
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sakelaridi
authors.forename: Nikitas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadoniou
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzivras
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balatsos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koufos
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Archimandritis
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins