title: Tryptase serum levels in patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing intra-arterial chemoembolization: Possible predictive role of response to treatment.
abstract: Tryptase is a serin protease stored in mast cell granules that has recently been found to be involved in tumor angiogenesis. Data from experimental tumor models have suggested that prior to the onset of angiogenesis mast cells were accumulated near tumor cells and were required for the macroscopic expansion and metastatic spread of primary tumor cells. Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is a well-established, highly angiogenesis-dependent hypervascular tumor. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess tryptase serum levels in 30 HCC patients prior and subsequent to hepatic transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). In this study, patients with intermediate stage (B) HCC, according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging classification, were enrolled. Additional patient features were adequate liver functional reserve and A or B status, according to the Child-Pugh classification. Tryptase levels were measured using the UniCAP-Tryptase fluoroimmunoassay. TACE was performed by loading doxorubicin on microspheres. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) tryptase level pre-TACE was 7.74±3.62 μg/l, and post-TACE 4.67±2.79 μg/l. A statistically significant difference (P<0.001) was detected, using the Student's t-test, between pre- and post-TACE tryptase level concentrations. No correlations were found between tryptase levels and other important clinicopathological features of patients. This is the first preliminary study analyzing the potential significance of serum tryptase levels in HCC patients. The results demonstrated higher serum tryptase levels in HCC patients, suggesting tryptase release from HCC tissue. As expected, after TACE, serum tryptase levels were decreased. Therefore, we suggested that tryptase was a potential biomarker of response to TACE treatment in HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology and Medical Oncology Unit, National Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Institute 'Giovanni Paolo II'
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goffredo
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology and Medical Oncology Unit, National Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Institute 'Giovanni Paolo II'
authors.forename: Cosmo Damiano
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gadaleta
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Analyses, Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Institute 'Giovanni Paolo II'
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laterza
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.affiliation: Interventional Radiology and Medical Oncology Unit, National Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Institute 'Giovanni Paolo II'
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ranieri
keywords: angiogenesis; hepatocellular cancer; mast cells; tryptase