Measuring Placental Alkaline Phosphatase in Tumors
Author Information
Author(s): R.K. Iles, T.E.J. Ind, T. Chard
Primary Institution: Williamson Laboratory for Molecular Oncology, Joint Academic Departments of Reproductive Physiology and Obstetrics Gynaecology, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College
Hypothesis
The study investigates the production of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and PLAP-like material by various tumor cell lines in vitro.
Conclusion
The study found that the immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) detected higher levels of PLAP and PLAP-like material in tumor cultures compared to the conventional enzymatic assay.
Supporting Evidence
- The IRMA detected immunoreactive PLAP in 37 of 80 human epithelial and germ cell cultures, while the IAEA detected PLAP in only 25.
- In 17 cases (21%), the IRMA recorded levels double that of the IAEA.
- The IRMA was much more robust than the IAEA and had considerably lower inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at how much of a certain protein, called PLAP, is made by different cancer cells in a lab. They found that a new test was better at finding this protein than an older test.
Methodology
The study used two assays: a conventional immunosorbent enzymatic assay (IAEA) and a new immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) to measure PLAP levels in culture media from 87 cell lines.
Limitations
The study does not address the potential degradation of enzyme activity upon storage or the production of defective PLAP.
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