Diagnostic potential of protein serum biomarkers for distinguishing small and non-small cell lung cancer in patients with suspicious lung lesions

Luz Fernanda Sua ^1,2, Silvia J Serrano-Gomez ³, Marcela Nuñez ³

⁰Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia.

Biomarkers : Biochemical Indicators of Exposure, Response, and Susceptibility to Chemicals +

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May 28, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Serum biomarkers show limited accuracy for independent lung cancer diagnosis and subtyping. Combining Pro-GRP, NSE, CYFRA21-1, and CEA may improve diagnostic performance for specific lung cancer subtypes.

Area Of Science

Oncology
Biomarker Research
Diagnostic Accuracy

Background

Biomarkers are crucial for cancer management but their accuracy for differential diagnosis and histological subtyping in lung cancer remains uncertain.
A diagnostic study assessed serum biomarkers including Pro-GRP, NSE, CYFRA21-1, SCC-Ag, and CEA in patients with malignant and benign lung lesions prior to biopsy.

Purpose Of The Study

To evaluate the predictive capacity of serum biomarkers in discriminating lung cancer from benign pathology.
To assess the accuracy of biomarkers in distinguishing small cell lung cancer (SCLC) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
To explore the utility of biomarkers in histological subtyping of lung cancer.

Main Methods

Serum levels of Pro-GRP, NSE, CYFRA21-1, SCC-Ag, and CEA were measured in 93 patients (60 with lung cancer, 33 with benign pathology).
Statistical analysis was performed to compare biomarker levels between different groups and assess diagnostic accuracy.

Main Results

Pro-GRP and NSE levels were elevated in SCLC compared to NSCLC and nonmalignant disease.
CEA and CYFRA21-1 demonstrated the highest accuracy in differentiating malignant from benign lung pathology.
While Pro-GRP alone had poor predictive capacity for NSCLC vs. SCLC, combining it with CEA and CYFRA21-1 improved performance.

Conclusions

Individual serum biomarkers lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity for definitive lung cancer differential diagnosis or histological subtyping.
Observed patterns suggest that a multi-biomarker approach, potentially combined with other diagnostic tools, may enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Future research should focus on optimizing multi-biomarker strategies for improved lung cancer diagnosis and personalized treatment.

Keywords:

Lung cancer NSCLC SCLC differential diagnosis histological subtyping tumor markers