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Identifier

000447549

Title

Ο ρόλος των επιπέδων πλάσματος της βιταμίνης Β12 (κοβαλαμίνης) ως βιοδείκτη στη διάγνωση και πρόγνωση νεοπλασιών

Alternative Title

The role of plasma B12 (cobalamin) levels as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis

Author

Ηλιάκη Γιαννακουδάκη Ευαγγελία

Thesis advisor

Στειακάκη, Ευτυχία

Reviewer

Ποντίκογλου, Χαράλαμπος
Καλπαδάκη, Χριστίνα

Abstract

Vitamin Β12 (B12 or cobalamin) is a coenzyme with an important role in DNA synthesis, participating in the methylation of homocysteine to methionine. Approximately 8% of patients examined for B12 deficiency are found with increased serum B12 concentration. High concentration of B12 has been associated with a variety of diseases including neurological, autoimmune, cardiological disorders but also with solid and blood tumors. The mechanism of elevated B12 serum levels in cancer and other diseases is not known so it is not clear whether the elevated concentration of B12 can be used as a biomarker for the early prediction of cancer or/and prediction of life expectancy of end terminal cancer patients. It is worth noting that most of the research is focused on elder patients while little is known for the connection of elevated B12 concentration in children. In this study we summarized the existent research literature on the basic pathophysiology of B12, examined the connection between high B12 concentration in plasma and cancer diagnosis and prognosis in a number of organs e.g. liver, blood, breast, kidneys, gastrointestine, but also its connection with non-cancerous diseases such as autoimmune and infectious diseases, with emphasis on the use of B12 levels as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cancer. In order to better understand this connection, we first presented the biochemical and metabolic pathways related to B12 plasma levels. The elevation of plasma B12 concentration is probably multifactorial and includes elevated concentrations of one or more proteins that bind to cobalamin. The diseases, associated with elevated concentrations of B12 in plasma, usually are severe and thus an early diagnosis is required for an efficient treatment to be developed. Elevated B12 concentration has a predictive value on cancer cases, especially in liver and blood. Combination with other existent prediction markers, depending on the related organ, gives a strong tool and advantage for early disease diagnosis. No correlation was found among elevated B12 concentration and cancer in children. B12 concentration can also be a good prognostic marker for life expectancy in terminal ill patients suffering from cancer or other diseases.

Language

Greek

Subject

Diagnostic biomarkers

Haptocorrins

Mortality

Transcobalamin

Απτοκορρίνες

Διαγνωστικός βιοδείκτης

Θνησιμότητα

Καρκίνος

Τρανσκοβαλαμίνη