Exploring Protein Expression Profiles in Lung Cancer Insufficient Microwave Ablation: Implications for Recurrence

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Proteomics

Background:

• Insufficient ablation is a major cause of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) recurrence.
• Understanding protein expression changes post-ablation is crucial for improving treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protein expression profile of lung cancer cells following insufficient ablation.
• To identify proteins and pathways associated with NSCLC recurrence and patient prognosis.

Main Methods:

• Established an insufficient microwave ablation model in mice.
• Utilized proteomic sequencing to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and signaling pathways.
• Confirmed protein expression via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and analyzed TCGA data for prognostic associations.

Main Results:

• Identified 99 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) after insufficient ablation.
• Found DEPs significantly enriched in metabolic processes, particularly nucleotide metabolism.
• CTP synthase 1 (CTPS1) and Thymidylate synthetase (TYMS) were associated with lung cancer patient survival.

Conclusions:

• Insufficient ablation induces alterations in nucleotide metabolism.
• These metabolic changes may contribute to NSCLC recurrence and metastasis.
• CTPS1 and TYMS are potential prognostic markers for NSCLC.