Linked Life Data

6850607

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/6850607

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
1983-7-8
pubmed:abstractText
Transfer RNA is the most complex biomacromolecule in both structure and function. The complexity of its structure is caused by a large variety of enzymes which add modifying groups to the four bases after the primary synthesis. The most abundant of these enzymes are the transfer RNA methylases, which add methyl groups at various positions in the macromolecule. These methylating enzymes were found to be, without exception, aberrantly hyperactive in every malignant tumor examined. In turn, every malignant tumor contains a few transfer RNAs that are different in structure from the transfer RNAs in the normal tissue. Again, there is no exception. These are the first qualitatively different biochemical components of every malignant cell, not more or less but different transfer RNAs. The late Alexander Gutman observed that cancer patients excrete in their urine elevated levels of certain methylated bases. From the structure of these bases and our knowledge of their method of synthesis, it became apparent that most of them come from the breakdown of transfer RNA. Their elevation in the urine stems from an extraordinarily high rate of turnover of transfer RNAs in tumor tissue. Highly sophisticated, sensitive methods of analysis were developed for the determination of the modified nucleosides in the urine of cancer patients. When related to the creatinine level of the urine, some of the modified nucleosides and products derived from them were elevated in a large variety of tumors. Perhaps more importantly, it was found that these elevated levels return to normal after effective chemotherapy. Thus, these markers may also be useful in monitoring the effectiveness of therapy. We report here initial studies on the detection of cancer in asbestos workers and possible premalignant conditions in workers with asbestosis.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0008-5472
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
43
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
2971-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1983
pubmed:articleTitle
Urinary excretion of modified nucleosides in patients with malignant mesothelioma.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.