title: Analysis of aqueous humour proteins in patients with retinoblastoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate aqueous humour protein composition from retinoblastoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, hospital-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen retinoblastoma patients (Reese-Ellsworth stage V or ABC classification group E RB) undergoing ocular enucleation, and 10 normal subjects undergoing cataract surgery. Five of 18 patients presented with associated secondary glaucoma whereas 13 had no secondary glaucoma; 5 of 13 patients with no secondary glaucoma received chemotherapeutical treatment with melphalan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aqueous humour samples were collected by limbal paracentesis of the anterior chamber after ocular enucleation in patients and after the stab peripheral corneal incision in controls. Total protein concentration according to Bradford method and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the samples were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aqueous humour protein concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aqueous humour protein concentration was significantly higher in retinoblastoma patients than controls (P < 0.01); patients with secondary glaucoma presented the highest values (P < 0.05 vs. controls); patients treated with melphalan presented a significant decrease (P < 0.01) versus non-treated; controls did not significantly differ from treated patients. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern in retinoblastoma patients who did not receive any treatment was very different either from treated or from controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study represents a preliminary step towards a more accurate two dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) pattern, which will be combined with mass spectrometry analysis to clarify the potential role of specific proteins in tumour development and progression; although these results suggest that aqueous humour protein pattern in retinoblastoma is characteristic, several aspects of the study are still under investigation.
authors: Retinoblastoma Referral Center, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. hadjistilian@unisi.it
authors: Theodora
authors: T
authors: Hadjistilianou
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Giglioni
authors: Lavinia
authors: L
authors: Micheli
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Vannoni
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Brogi
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Cevenini
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Cortelazzo
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: De Francesco
authors: Felice
authors: F
authors: Menicacci
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Leoncini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins