Sex-based differences in CEACAM5 expression in lung cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5) is a potential biomarker and drug target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• Increased CEACAM5 expression is noted in lung adenocarcinoma, particularly in lesions more prevalent in women.
• Sex-based differences in CEACAM5 expression and its clinical implications require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate sex-based differences in CEACAM5 expression in NSCLC.
• To analyze the correlation between CEACAM5 expression, sex, histology, and overall survival (OS).

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data for CEACAM5 expression in 994 NSCLC tumors (398 female, 596 male).
• Comparison of CEACAM5 expression levels based on sex and histological subtypes (adenocarcinoma vs. squamous cell carcinoma).
• Correlation analysis between CEACAM5 expression and overall survival, stratified by sex and stage.

Main Results:

• Higher mean CEACAM5 expression was observed in female NSCLC patients (194.5 FPKM) compared to male patients (109.2 FPKM) (P<0.0001).
• Adenocarcinoma histology showed significantly higher CEACAM5 expression (239.3 FPKM) than squamous cell carcinoma (46.2 FPKM) (P<0.0001).
• High CEACAM5 expression was associated with worse 5-year OS in stage I female lung adenocarcinoma patients (33% vs. 64%, P=0.008).

Conclusions:

• NSCLC tumors exhibit higher CEACAM5 expression in female patients and in adenocarcinoma histology.
• High CEACAM5 expression is linked to poorer survival outcomes specifically in stage I female lung adenocarcinoma patients.
• Further research is warranted to understand the biological impact of sex on CEACAM5 as a biomarker.