Description:
The Calcitonin ELISA is intended for the quantitative determination of Calcitonin in human serum. The test is for in vitro diagnostic use only.
Calcitonin, a 32-amino-acid polypeptide, is secreted primarily by the thyroidal parafollicular C-cells. Its main biological effect is to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption. This property has led to Calcitonin’s use for disorders characterized by increased resorption such as Paget’s disease, for some patients with osteoporosis.The most prominent clinical syndrome associated with a disordered hypersecretion of Calcitonin is medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MTC). MTC is a tumor of the Calcitonin producing C-cells of the thyroid gland. Although MTC is rare, comprising 5 - 10% of all thyroid cancer, it is often fatal. It may occur sporadically or in a familial form that is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. MTC has great clinical importance because of its familial distribution. Further, it leant itself to be diagnosed early by serum Calcitonin and total cure for early sub-clinical disease is possible[1]. This is frequently associated with other clinical features and it has good potential for cure with surgery. Although a rare tumor, it can occur in a familial pattern[1,3,4] as a Type II multiple endocrine neoplasia. These tumors usually produce diagnostically elevated serum concentrations of Calcitonin. Therefore, the immunoassay for Calcitonin in serum can be used to diagnose the presence of MTC with an exceptional degree of accuracy and specificity. In the small but increasing percentage of patients, however, basal hormone levels are indistinguishable from normal[1]. Some of these subjects represent the early stages of C-cell neoplasia or hyperplasia that are most amenable to surgical cure. To identify these patients with early disease, provocative tests for Calcitonin secretion is necessary to preclude false negatives if only basal Calcitonin determination are performed. Most tumors respond with increased Calcitonin level to the administration of either calcium[5] or pentagastrin[6] or their combination[7], but either agent can still give misleading results. Therefore, in cases with clinical manifestations, both agents should be considered for diagnostic testing. Further, Calcitonin measurements can also be used to monitor the efficacy of therapy in patients with Calcitonin producing tumors.
It has been reported[8] that multiple forms of immunoreactive calcitonin are found in either normal subjects or patients with MTC. These various forms of calcitonin have molecular weights varying from 3,400 (monomeric) up to 70,000 Dalton (polymeric).
Neoplastic disorders of other neuroendocrine cells can also elevate Calcitonin. The best example is small cell lung cancer. Other tumors such as carcinoids and islet cell tumors of the pancreas can also result in elevated serum Calcitonin.
The DRG Calcitonin Immunoassay is a two-site ELISA [Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay] for the measurement of the biologically intact 32 amino acid chain of Calcitonin. It utilizes two different mouse monoclonal antibodies to human calcitonin specific for well-defined regions on the calcitonin molecule. One antibody binds only to Calcitonin 11-23 and this antibody is biotinylated. The other antibody binds only to Calcitonin 21-32 and this antibody is labeled with horseradish peroxidase [HRP] for detection.In this assay, calibrators, controls, or patient samples are simultaneously incubated with the enzyme labeled antibody and a biotin coupled antibody in a streptavidin-coated microplate well. Thus the calcitonin in the sample is “sandwiched” between these two antibodies. At the end of the assay incubation, the microwell is washed to remove unbound components and the enzyme bound to the solid phase is incubated with the substrate, tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). An acidic stopping solution is then added to stop the reaction and converts the color to yellow. The intensity of the yellow color is directly proportional to the concentration of calcitonin in the sample. A dose response curve of absorbance unit vs. concentration is generated using results obtained from the calibrators. Concentrations of calcitonin present in the controls and patient samples are determined directly from this curve.