title: Serum metallothionein in patients with testicular cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metallothioneins (MTs) have been disclosed as a useful diagnostic factor for tumour progression and drug resistance in a variety of malignancies. Increased levels of MT in blood serum have been found in patients with several types of cancer, but there is no available information on serum MT levels in patients with testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT). The aim of the study was to determine MT levels in serum of patients with TGCT and to evaluate the portion of platinum (Pt) that binds to MT after cisplatin administration since MTs could be involved in drug resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentration of total MT was determined in serum of 25 men with newly diagnosed TGCT by differential pulse voltammetry. The fractionation of serum was carried out by size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC), while concentration of Pt in collected fractions was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentration of serum MT was significantly higher in TGCT patients than in healthy volunteers. The results of SE-HPLC analysis showed that only a small amount of Pt was bound to proteins in the area of MT elution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant increase in MT levels in individuals with TGCT indicates certain health problem and, in combination with other commonly used diagnostic tools, could improve early diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, POB 291, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia, btariba@imi.hr.
authors.forename: Blanka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tariba
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Živković
authors.forename: Nesrete
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krasnići
authors.forename: Vlatka Filipović
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Marijić
authors.forename: Marijana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erk
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gamulin
authors.forename: Mislav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grgić
authors.forename: Alica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizent
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D010984:Platinum / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010984:Platinum; D008668:Metallothionein; D002945:Cisplatin