Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. The high mortality from CRC is mainly related to metastasis affecting distant organs and their function. Dissemination of tumor cells from the primary tumor and hematogeneous spread are considered crucial in the formation of tumor metastases. The analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and CTC clusters in the blood can be used for the early detection of invasive cancer. Moreover, CTCs have a prognostic significance in the monitoring of a malignant disease or the response to chemotherapy. This work presents an overview of the research conducted on CTCs with the aim of finding suitable detection systems and assessing the possibility of clinical applications in patients with CRC.

Although controversial, data on the genetic polymorphism of apoprotein E (APOE), methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHFR) and paraoxonase (PON1) genes implicate their role in the development of cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to assess the association of polymorphism of APOE, MTHFR and PON1 genes in 56 stroke and 36 carotid stenosis patients, and in 124 control subjects by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. In the stroke group a significantly different MTHFR genotype distribution (p=0.004, odds ratio for T/T of 17.571), but no significant difference in APOE and PON1 allele and genotype distribution compared to the control was found. The carotid stenosis group exhibited a significantly different APOE allele and genotype distribution (p=0.023, odds ratio APOEepsilon3epsilon4 of 4.24), but no significant difference in the MTHFR and PON1 allele and genotype distribution from the control group. The preliminary results obtained in this study revealed an association of the MTHFR and APOE gene polymorphism with cerebrovascular disease, suggesting a significant risk for stroke in subjects who are homozygous for the T allele and for carotid stenosis in subjects having APOEepsilon3epsilon4 genotype. Additional studies in larger patient groups are needed to confirm these observations.

Objective. This study was undertaken to investigate the usefulness of standard biochemical and hematological parameters measurement at third trimester of pregnancy for the individual prediction of preeclampsia. Methods. A retrospective designed study included 113 patients with preeclampsia and a control group of 95 normal, uncomplicated pregnancies. Patients were recruited in the third trimester of pregnancy at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, General Hospital Celje, Slovenia, EU. Erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, body mass index, parity, and age were evaluated to predict the occurrence of preeclampsia based on multivariate logistic regression model. Results. When parameters such as uric acid and urea were included into logistic regression model, we correctly classified 79.6% patients. With additional four parameters (thrombocytes, hematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase and leukocytes) we correctly classified 83.8% patients with preeclampsia. Conclusion. Our findings confirmed that several standard biochemical and hematological parameters, when used as laboratory test panel have significant prognostic value in the prediction of preeclampsia.

Purpose: Increasing evidence exists that hyperprolactinemia alters metabolic profile. The mechanism of this effect is unknown. We aimed to investigate the differences between the metabolic profile of patients with prolactinomas and nonfunctional pituitary adenomas and to evaluate the impact of other pituitary hormones on their metabolic profile. Methods: Our retrospective study included 86 consecutive patients with prolactinomas and nonfunctional adenomas (29 prolactinomas and 57 adenomas). Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum prolactin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, urinary free cortisol, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone in men, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, alanine-transaminase, aspartate-transaminase, fasting glucose, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were obtained for all patients. Regression analyses were performed on log-transformed data. Results: After adjustment for age, gender, and tumor size, prolactinomas were associated with higher BMI (OR 5.61, 95%CI 1.70–9.51, p = 0.005), LDL cholesterol (OR 3.60, 95%CI 1.35–5.93, p = 0.015), DHEA-S (OR 1.97, 95%CI 1.23–3.72, p = 0.026), and lower GH levels (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.03–0.84, p = 0.037). In a linear multivariate regression, the association between DHEA-S, GH, and prolactin remained significant even after adjustment for BMI. GH and IGF-I were associated with BMI and LDL cholesterol, but the association diminished after adjustment for serum prolactin. Conclusions: Prevalence of obesity is four times higher in patients with prolactinomas than in patients with nonfunctional adenomas. Higher DHEA-S and lower GH levels in patients with prolactinomas may have an important role in prolactin-induced metabolic effects. Further studies are needed.