STUDY OF SERUM ANTI-P53 , AUTOANTIBODIES AND SIALIC ACID AS EARLY DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS IN TOBACCO SMOKERS WITH LUNG CANCER

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with a very•poor survival rate. The low cure rate can be attributed to lake of effective screening and early detection measurs Therefore there is intense scrutiny to provide a better understanding of the molecular and cellular processes involved in this aggressive disease. So development of novel molecular diagnostic and therapeutic strategies could result in prevention of cancer formation or at least prolongation of disease-free survival.

A large body of evidence indicates that tobacco smoking has unfavorable consequences on human health. Chronic smokers run the risk of lung cancer, respiratory infections, heart disease, and pregnancy complications, caused by inhalation of nicotine, the principal component of tobacco. The annual worldwide mortality due to tobacco use is estimated to be 3 million. Many hazardous substances in mainstream cigarette smoke are also present in environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Therefore individuals involuntarily exposed to ETS, called passive smokers, are also adversely affected. For example, there are about 3000 lung cancer deaths per year among nonsmokers. Even infants nursed by smoking mothers are affected by nicotine as it is secreted in the milk.

The P53 gene has emerged as one of the most important tumor suppressor genes. The gene is located on chromosome 17 and it produces a protein that functions as transcription factor. Genes controlled by P53 proteins are involved in cell division and viability. P53 proteins function to prevent the unregulated cell growth by arresting cell cycle progression, thus allowing DNA to repair or it can lead to apoptosis.