The Use of Human Serum Samples to Study Malignant Transformation: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Obesity is linked to ~20% of cancers, yet cancer risk biomarkers are not fully understood.
• Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is a potential biomarker for visceral adipose tissue, but its role in cancer development is unclear.
• Discovering functional biomarkers for cancer risk is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if human serum can induce 3D growth in non-tumorigenic cells, a marker of cancerous transformation.
• To explore the association between circulating FGF2 levels and malignant transformation in vitro.
• To identify key serum factors involved in promoting tumorigenesis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized soft agar assays to measure anchorage-independent growth of JB6 P+ epithelial cells stimulated by human serum.
• Conducted a pilot study analyzing serum FGF2 levels in 33 men and women.
• Assessed the effect of a fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) inhibitor on serum-stimulated cell transformation.

Main Results:

• Human serum from healthy individuals stimulated the 3D growth of non-tumorigenic epithelial cells in soft agar.
• Serum FGF2 levels did not correlate with epithelial cell colony formation (r=0.05, p=0.80).
• A selective FGFR1 inhibitor significantly reduced serum-induced cell transformation, indicating FGF2/FGFR1 pathway involvement.

Conclusions:

• The FGF2/FGFR1 axis appears to play a role in JB6 P+ cell malignant transformation.
• Human serum contains factors that can promote tumorigenesis in epithelial cells.
• Developed a novel assay for identifying serum factors that drive cancer development.