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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Diagnostic role of circulating extracellular matrix-related proteins in non-small cell lung cancer

Authors: Francesca Andriani, Elena Landoni, Mavis Mensah, Federica Facchinetti, Rosalba Miceli, Elda Tagliabue, Marta Giussani, Maurizio Callari, Loris De Cecco, Mario Paolo Colombo, Luca Roz, Ugo Pastorino, Gabriella Sozzi

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding microenvironment are crucial determinants of cancer progression. During this process, bi-directional communication among tumor cells and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) regulate extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and remodeling. As a result of this dynamic process, soluble ECM proteins can be released into the bloodstream and may represent novel circulating biomarkers useful for cancer diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to measure the levels of three circulating ECM related proteins (COL11A1, COL10A1 and SPARC) in plasma samples of lung cancer patients and in healthy heavy-smokers controls and test whether such measurements have diagnostic or prognostic value.

Methods

Gene expression profiling of lung fibroblasts isolated from paired normal and cancer tissue of NSCLC patients was performed by gene expression microarrays. The prioritization of the candidates for the study of circulating proteins in plasma was based on the most differentially expressed genes in cancer associated fibroblasts. Soluble ECM proteins were assessed by western blot in the conditioned medium of lung fibroblasts and by ELISA assays in plasma samples.

Results

Plasma samples from lung cancer patients and healthy heavy-smokers controls were tested for levels of COL11A1 and COL10A1 (n = 57 each) and SPARC (n = 90 each). Higher plasma levels of COL10A1 were detected in patients (p ≤ 0.001), a difference that was driven specifically by females (p < 0.001). No difference in COL11A1 levels between patients and controls was found. SPARC levels were also higher in plasma patients than controls (p < 0.001) with good performance in discriminating the two groups (AUC = 0.744). No significant association was observed between plasma proteins levels and clinicopathological features or survival.

Conclusion

Soluble factors related to proficient tumor-stroma cross-talk are detectable in plasma of primary lung cancer patients and may represent a valuable complementary diagnostic tool to discriminate lung cancer patients from healthy heavy-smokers individuals as shown for the SPARC protein.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Diagnostic role of circulating extracellular matrix-related proteins in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors
Francesca Andriani
Elena Landoni
Mavis Mensah
Federica Facchinetti
Rosalba Miceli
Elda Tagliabue
Marta Giussani
Maurizio Callari
Loris De Cecco
Mario Paolo Colombo
Luca Roz
Ugo Pastorino
Gabriella Sozzi
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4772-0

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