Alpha-1 antitrypsin phenotypes in patients with lung, prostate and breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: Determination of Alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) phenotypes in Jordanian patients with lung, prostate and breast cancer to find a prevalent phenotype that could be recommended for the early diagnosis of cancer.

METHODS: This study was conducted at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan, during the period May 2001 to May 2002. Alpha1-AT phenotypes for 83 Jordanian cancer patients distributed as follows, 25 lung cancer, 25 prostate cancer and 33 with breast cancer, were tested using isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis and immunofixation techniques.

RESULTS: Isoelectric focusing results demonstrated that 96% of lung cancer patients were of PiMM phenotype and 4% of PiFM phenotype. All prostate cancer patients (100%) were found to be of PiMM phenotype. Phenotypes of breast cancer patients were 94% PiMM, 3% PiFM and 3% PiMS.

CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the distribution of alpha1-AT phenotypes among Jordanian patients with lung, prostate and breast cancer and they matched those reported for healthy individuals. Thus, we cannot recommend a given alpha1-AT phenotype for early diagnosis of the above mentioned types of cancer.