Abstract 4786: Biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma in salivary proteome

Abstract

Lung cancer is the major cause of cancer-related deaths and has a poor prognosis with a 5-yr overall survival of <10%, mostly due to lack of early stage diagnosis. Cigarette smoking is estimated to be responsible for >80% of the cases. Previous studies have demonstrated that former smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer compared to nonsmokers. Early detection of lung cancer would improve the overall survival of this disease. However, there is no validated screening test for lung cancer. To develop an early detection test, we selected saliva as the biofluid of choice due to its accessibility, protein content that provides diagnostic information on a variety of diseases, including cancer. To identify differentially expressed proteins in saliva from individuals with lung adenocarcinoma, whole saliva samples were collected from 6 patients with lung adenocarcinoma and 6 matched healthy controls (male individuals, >40 years, smokers >10 pack year). Proteins and peptides from whole saliva samples were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identifying 20 differentially expressed protein spots. Mass spectrometry analysis identified 63 peptides and revealed fourteen non-redundant proteins in saliva obtained from lung adenocarcinoma patients. Four of these proteins have been previously reported as serum biomarkers of cancer, and two of them were associated with non-small cell lung cancer. These potential biomarkers are being tested in an independent and larger cohort for validation. Patient-based saliva proteomics is a promising approach to searching for cancer biomarkers. Further characterization of these markers may provide the basis for new, noninvasive tests for screening, detection, and monitoring of high-risk individuals. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4786. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4786