Fucosylation genes as circulating biomarkers for lung cancer
Qixin Leng1, Jen-Hui Tsou1, Min Zhan2
1Department of Pathology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 South Pine Street, MSTF 7th Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21201-1192, USA.
Purpose:
Fucosyltransferases (FUTs) catalyze fucosylation, which plays a central role in biological processes. Aberrant fucosylation is associated with malignant transformation. Here we investigated whether transcriptional levels of genes coding the FUTs in plasma could provide cell-free circulating biomarkers for lung cancer.
Methods:
mRNA expression of all 13 Futs (Fut1-11, Pofut1, and Pofut2) was evaluated by PCR assay in 48 lung tumor tissues and the 48 matched noncancerous lung tissues, and plasma of 64 lung cancer patients and 32 cancer-free individuals to develop plasma Fut biomarkers. The developed plasma Fut biomarkers were validated in an independent cohort of 40 lung cancer patients and 20 controls for their diagnostic performance.
Results:
Four of the 13 Futs showed a different transcriptional level in 48 lung tumor tissues compared with the 48 matched nonconscious tissues (all < 0.05). Two (Fut8, and Pofut1) of the four Futs had a higher plasma level in 64 lung cancer patients compared with 32 control subjects, and consistent with that in lung tissue specimens. Combined analysis of the two Futs produced 81% sensitivity and 86% specificity for diagnosis of lung cancer, and was independent of stage and histology of lung tumors. The diagnostic performance of the two plasma biomarkers was successfully validated in the different cohort of 40 lung cancer patients and 20 control individuals.
Conclusion:
The fucosylation genes may provide new circulating biomarkers for the early detection of lung cancer.
Related Concept Videos
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:47Lung Capacity
01:21Coronary Circulation
Coronary circulation begins at the base of the aorta, where two main arteries arise—the left and right coronary arteries. These arteries encircle the heart in the coronary sulcus and supply the...
01:14Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
01:19Overview of Pulmonary Circulation
The process begins with the right ventricle of the heart pumping deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary trunk. This large vessel extends about 5 centimeters before splitting into the left and right pulmonary arteries. These arteries...