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Zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein is expressed by malignant prostatic epithelium and may serve as a potential serum marker for prostate cancer.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hale, LP; Price, DT; Sanchez, LM; Demark-Wahnefried, W; Madden, JF
Published in: Clin Cancer Res
April 2001

Zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is a M(r) 41,000 glycoprotein secreted by a variety of normal epithelia. ZAG was recently shown to stimulate lipolysis in adipocytes, leading to the development of cachexia in animals with ZAG-producing tumors. To understand the possible contribution of ZAG to the development of cachexia in men with prostate cancer, ZAG production by normal and malignant prostate tissue was investigated using immunohistochemical assays. Anti-ZAG monoclonal antibodies reacted strongly with normal prostate epithelium but not with other components of prostate or seminal vesicles. The majority of prostate cancers tested (35 of 48; 73%) also reacted with anti-ZAG antibodies. High-grade tumors expressed significantly less ZAG than moderate-grade tumors (mean ZAG score 1.1 versus 1.9; P < 0.01). Men with ZAG-producing prostate carcinomas had elevated levels of serum ZAG relative to their normal age- and race-matched controls (P < 0.02). Furthermore, s.c. growth of human ZAG-producing murine tumors in syngeneic mice and orthotopic growth of ZAG-producing human prostate carcinomas in nude rats resulted in readily detectable levels of human ZAG in the serum. Taken together, these studies show that ZAG production by prostate cancer can lead to systemically elevated serum ZAG levels that may be useful diagnostically. The effects of elevated systemic ZAG on cachexia-associated complications in patients with advanced prostate cancer deserves additional investigation.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Clin Cancer Res

ISSN

1078-0432

Publication Date

April 2001

Volume

7

Issue

4

Start / End Page

846 / 853

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein
  • Seminal Vesicles
  • Seminal Plasma Proteins
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Mice
  • Male
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Hale, L. P., Price, D. T., Sanchez, L. M., Demark-Wahnefried, W., & Madden, J. F. (2001). Zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein is expressed by malignant prostatic epithelium and may serve as a potential serum marker for prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res, 7(4), 846–853.
Hale, L. P., D. T. Price, L. M. Sanchez, W. Demark-Wahnefried, and J. F. Madden. “Zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein is expressed by malignant prostatic epithelium and may serve as a potential serum marker for prostate cancer.Clin Cancer Res 7, no. 4 (April 2001): 846–53.
Hale LP, Price DT, Sanchez LM, Demark-Wahnefried W, Madden JF. Zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein is expressed by malignant prostatic epithelium and may serve as a potential serum marker for prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2001 Apr;7(4):846–53.
Hale LP, Price DT, Sanchez LM, Demark-Wahnefried W, Madden JF. Zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein is expressed by malignant prostatic epithelium and may serve as a potential serum marker for prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2001 Apr;7(4):846–853.

Published In

Clin Cancer Res

ISSN

1078-0432

Publication Date

April 2001

Volume

7

Issue

4

Start / End Page

846 / 853

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Zn-Alpha-2-Glycoprotein
  • Seminal Vesicles
  • Seminal Plasma Proteins
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Mice
  • Male
  • Humans