Detection and Prognostic Analysis of Serum Protein Expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To assess differences in serum proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients. Methods: 144 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients and 50 healthy volunteers were included in this study, with surface-enhanced laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and weak cation exchange magnetic beads. Follow-up allowed the relations between serum proteins and prognosis to be analyzed. Results: A total of 93 protein peaks were detected (molecular weight range: 1500-30000), 10 demonstrating statistically significant differences. There were no differences in protein peaks between 92 patients with a survival more than 2 years and 52 patients with survival less than 2 years. There were two significantly different protein peaks between 45 stage Ⅱ patients with a survival more than 2 years and 14 stage Ⅱ patients with survival less than 2 years. There was one significantly different protein peak between 22 stage Ⅲ patients with a survival more than 2 years and 29 stage Ⅲ patients with survival less than 2 years. Conclusion: Differences of serum proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma are related to prognosis of patients. The protein fingerprint can be helpful for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Current advances in esophageal cancer proteomics

“…In search of ESCC prognostic serum biomarkers using SELDI-TOF MS, Jiang et al found no difference between protein profiles patients with more than 2-year and less than 2-year survival [58]. Furthermore, only 1 protein peak differed significantly between stage III disease patients stratified by this survival criterion.…”

“…By conducting subgroup analysis based on the state of lymph node metastasis, a significant clinicopathological prognostic factor, Uemura et al succeeded in discovering a reliable prognostic biomarker [23]. Similarly, Jiang et al identified a prognostic biomarker by correlation with EC clinical stage [58]. Patients' stratification according to clinical background would allow compensation for the heterogeneity of molecular mechanisms involved in EC and provide a potential to increase the sensitivity and specificity of EC prognostic biomarkers.…”