|
found lots of recent articles I could not access
this 2001 I could and excerpt here:
Reliability analysis
The reliability analyses are shown in Table IV. With
the exception of salivary total protein, the results
suggest a decrease in intracorrelations with respect to
time across the 5 days of sampling. The 9 AMsampling
time produced the best intercorrelation and intracorre-
lation coefficients for sampling time across all 4 param-
eters (Table IV).
DISCUSSION
It is difficult to compare the results of these findings
with those in the literature. Very few investigators have
studied the technical issues associated with the c-erbB-
2 marker.5A variety of analytical techniques have also
been used to study the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in both
tissue and serum.2With respect to serum, most studies
have used enzyme-based immunoassays.2,5These tech-
niques have varied with respect to the sensitivity of the
assays and the use of either monoclonal or polyclonal
antibodies.13Some kits used in the literature have since
been discontinued and are no longer available to
researchers.
A question that might be raised is,how does a 185 kd
protein enter the saliva? There is a lot that we do not
comprehend about salivary function and, in particular,
protein secretion. We do know that large proteins,such
as cytokines,and growth factors are found in saliva and
often reflect changes of magnitude according to the
individual’s health.14 Using commercially available
antibodies directed against the extracellular domain of
the c-erbB-2 protein, we have determined by western
blot analysis that the protein detected in saliva is,
indeed,c-erbB-2. The presence of c-erbB-2 in saliva is
either by active transport or leakage. It is quite possible
that extracellular stimuli may initiate expression of
proto-ocogenes in epithelial tissues.15Further research
is required to determine which mechanism is respon-
sible for the presence of the c-erbB-2 protein in saliva.
In comparing the values with those presented in a
previous study,8 we found that the mean values for
healthy women in the earlier study were 71.30 units/
mg protein, whereas the individuals with carcinoma of
the breast were 143.58 units/mg protein. There
were no significant differences between men and
women with respect to salivary c-erbB-2 concentra-
tions. This is the first report of the presence of c-erbB-
2 in the saliva of men and may have future diagnostic
potential for the detection of malignant disease among
this cohort of individuals.
Th Collectively, these additional
analyses suggest that it would be more reliable for the
dentist to perform the saliva collection. Additionally, it
may even be more prudent to perform the salivary
collections during the morning hours.
In summary, the results of this study suggest that c-
erbB-2 can be detected in healthy men and is compa-
rable in value with healthy women. This may initiate
opportunities for the use of salivary c-erbB-2 as a diag-
nostic media for the detection of carcinomas among
men. In addition, morning and early evening collec-
tions do not affect salivary c-erbB-2 concentrations.
Finally, c-erbB-2 appears to be a very reliable salivary
marker, especially when the collections are supervised
by a dentist or trained health care practitioner and are
performed during the morning hours.
|
Linear Mode
