title: Analysis of heparanase isoforms and cathepsin B in the plasma of patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas: analytical cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Heparanase-1 degrades heparan sulfate and has been correlated with tumor progression. Although the isoform heparanase-2 has no catalytic activity, it seems to be important for modulating heparanase-1 activity. Cathepsin B is a proteinase involved in tumor metastasis. The aim of this study was to analyze heparanase isoform expression and cathepsin B activity in plasma samples from patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas, compared with healthy individuals (control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an analytical cross-sectional study. Peripheral blood samples were collected at a Brazilian public hospital, from 21 patients with histopathological diagnoses of gastrointestinal carcinomas and from 43 healthy individuals. The analyses were performed in two Brazilian medical schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heparanase isoforms were identified and quantified in plasma samples by means of Western blot. The enzymatic activities of heparanase-1 and cathepsin B were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that the expression of both heparanase isoforms was significantly greater in plasma samples from gastrointestinal carcinoma patients, compared with the control group. Logistic regression analysis showed that increased heparanase-1 and heparanase-2 expression was exclusively dependent on the tumor. There was a significant increase in heparanase-1 and cathepsin B activity in the patients' plasma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overexpression of heparanase-1 and heparanase-2, along with increased heparanase-1 and cathepsin B activity in plasma, is associated with the diagnosis of gastrointestinal carcinoma. These findings provide support for using non-invasive assays (plasma samples) as an auxiliary method for diagnosing gastrointestinal tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carina Mucciolo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarice Silvia Taemi
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Origassa
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thérèse Rachell
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Theodoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro Luongo
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Aguilar
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Melo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Accardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Ippolito
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Bouças
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eloah Rabello
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.affiliation: Associação Beneficente de Coleta de Sangue (Colsan), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Madalena Maria Nunes Silva
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pares
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Reis
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Waisberg
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovanna Canato
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Toloi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helena Bonciani
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waisberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida Silva
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pinhal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000099175:Heparanase
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002401:Cathepsin B; D005966:Glucuronidase; D007527:Isoenzymes; D000099175:Heparanase