title: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy modifies serum angiotensinase activities in women with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the putative changes in serum angiotensinase activities (aminopeptidase N, APN; aminopeptidase B, APB; aminopeptidase A, APA; aspartyl aminopeptidase, ASAP) involved in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in women with breast cancer treated or not with a neoadjuvant therapy of paclitaxel and anthracycline and in healthy women volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We fluorometrically analysed serum APN, APB, APA and ASAP activities using their corresponding aminoacyl-β-naphthylamides as substrates in women with breast cancer treated with a neoadjuvant therapy of paclitaxel and anthracycline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared with healthy controls, women with breast cancer not treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, showed a decrease in angiotensinase activity, which support the putative increase of angiotensin II (Ang II) levels, indicating that the tumour process would favour the development of the disease. Also, an increase in APN and APB activities was observed, which support a role for angiotensin IV (Ang IV). In women treated with a neoadjuvant therapy, we described an increase in ASAP and APA activities, supporting the idea that this treatment increases Ang II catabolism. The resulting decrease in Ang II level could lead to an inhibition of the tumour growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present results show changes in serum angiotensinase activities in women with breast cancer and in women with breast cancer treated with a neoadjuvant therapy of paclitaxel and anthracycline. Therefore, considerable attention should be focused on the development of RAS blockade therapy as a new strategy for breast cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental and Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain.
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Expósito
authors.forename: María del Pilar
authors.initials: Mdel P
authors.lastname: Carrera-González
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mayas
authors.forename: Basilio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dueñas
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Ferrol
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martos
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D043384:Glutamyl Aminopeptidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000097:blood; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012016:Reference Values; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; C076819:angiotensinase; D000804:Angiotensin II; C072587:2-naphthylamide; C012877:angiotensin II, des-Asp(1)-des-Arg(2)-Ile(5)-; D010450:Endopeptidases; D000626:Aminopeptidases; D043384:Glutamyl Aminopeptidase; D017239:Paclitaxel