Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Macrocalcitonin Is a Novel Pitfall in the Routine of Serum Calcitonin Immunoassay

Full text
Author(s):
Show less -
Alves, Thalita G. [1, 2, 3] ; Kasamatsu, Teresa S. [1, 2] ; Yang, Ji H. [1, 2] ; Meneghetti, Maria Cecilia Z. [3] ; Mendes, Aline [3] ; Kunii, Ilda S. [1, 2] ; Lindsey, Susan C. [1, 2] ; Camacho, Cleber P. [1, 2] ; Dias da Silva, Magnus R. [1, 2] ; Maciel, Rui M. B. [1, 2] ; Vieira, Jose Gilberto H. [1, 2] ; Martins, Joao Roberto M. [1, 2, 3]
Total Authors: 12
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Endocrinol, Dept Med, Thyroid Dis Ctr, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Endocrinol, Dept Med, Lab Mol & Translat Endocrinol, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Biochem, Div Mol Biol, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM; v. 101, n. 2, p. 653-658, FEB 2016.
Web of Science Citations: 7
Abstract

Context: Calcitonin (CT) is a sensitive marker of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and is used for primary diagnosis and follow-up after thyroidectomy. However, persistently elevated CT is observed even after complete surgical removal without evidence of a recurrent or persistent tumor. Objective: To investigate the presence of assay interference in the serum CT of MTC patients who are apparently without a structural disease. Patients and Methods: We studied three index MTC cases for CT assay interference and 14 patients with metastatic MTC. The CT level was measured using an immunofluorometric assay. Screening for assay interference was performed by determination of CT levels before and after serum treatment with polyethylene glycol. Additionally, samples were analyzed by chromatography on ultra-performance liquid chromatography and protein A-Sepharose. Results: Patients with biochemical and structural disease showed CT mean recovery of 84.1% after polyethylene glycol treatment, whereas patients suspected of interference showed recovery from 2-7%. The elution profile on UPLC showed that the immunometric CT from these three patients behaved like a high molecular mass aggregate (>300 kDa). Additionally, when these samples were applied to the protein A-Sepharose, CT immunoreactivity was retained on the column and was only released after lowering the pH. Conclusions: For the first time, our results show the presence of a novel pitfall in the CT immunoassay: ``macrocalcitonin.{''} Its etiology, frequency, and meaning remain to be defined, but its recognition is of interest and can help clinicians avoid unnecessary diagnostic investigations and treatment during the follow-up of MTC. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 06/60402-1 - Medular carcinoma of the thyroid: revisiting the clinical, molecular biological, biochemical and biological aspects following findings of molecular genetics
Grantee:Rui Monteiro de Barros Maciel
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants