Protein binding, sister chromatid exchange and expression of oncogene proteins in patients treated with cisplatinum (cisDDP)-based chemotherapy

Abstract

The aim of this pilot was to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating several complementary biologic markers into a molecular epidemiologic study of chemotherapy patients. Thirty-two cancer patients being treated withcis-DDP-based chemotherapy for the first time were enrolled in the study and donated a baseline sample and at least one post-treatment sample of blood. Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCEs) and plasma protein and hemoglobin binding bycisDDP were significantly increased in samples drawn at various timepoints following treatment. The pattern of nine different oncogene protein products (including those ofras, fes, andmyc) remained unchanged in sera of six patients followed over the course of their treatment. However, the levels ofras P₂₁ product were significantly elevated above normal, control levels in all six cancer patients — both prior to and throughout the course of chemotherapy. These results suggest the usefulness of utilizing a battery of markers to evaluate biologic response to cisplatinum-based chemotherapy.