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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Longitudinal Measurement of Extracellular Matrix Rigidity in 3D Tumor Models Using Particle-tracking Microrheology

Longitudinal Measurement of Extracellular Matrix Rigidity in 3D Tumor Models Using Particle-tracking Microrheology

Published on: June 10, 2014

Elastin turnover in malignant solid tumors.

Barry Starcher¹, Edward Sauter, Coty Ho

¹Department of Biochemistry and.

Connective Tissue Research

|July 23, 2013

Summary

Urine desmosine levels are significantly elevated in untreated cancer patients, suggesting elastin breakdown in tumors. This finding highlights desmosine as a potential cancer biomarker.

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Oncology
Biomarker Discovery

Background:

Elastin is a crucial structural protein in connective tissues.
Desmosine is a unique amino acid crosslinking elastin.
The role of desmosine in cancer has not been fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate desmosine as a potential urinary biomarker for cancer.
To assess differences in urine desmosine levels between cancer patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

Quantification of urine desmosine levels using creatinine normalization.
Comparison of desmosine levels in normal controls, untreated cancer patients, chemotherapy patients, and cancer survivors.

Main Results:

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Urine desmosine levels were significantly higher in untreated cancer subjects (175 pmol/mg creatinine) compared to normal controls (43.5 pmol/mg creatinine).
No significant difference in urine desmosine was observed in patients undergoing chemotherapy or disease-free survivors.
Elevated desmosine indicates elastin turnover in malignant solid tumors.

Conclusions:

Urine desmosine shows potential as a sensitive biomarker for detecting active malignancy.
Elastin degradation is associated with the presence of solid tumors.
Further research is warranted to explore desmosine's clinical utility in cancer diagnostics.