Methylated PTGER4 is better than CA125, CEA, Cyfra211 and NSE as a therapeutic response assessment marker in stage IV lung cancer

Abstract

Real-time assessment of therapeutic response in patients with advanced lung cancer presents a major challenge throughout the treatment process. Currently, computed tomography imaging is often used; however, it is radiation-based and hysteretic and is not suitable for repeated use as a real-time assessment. Blood biomarkers represent a novel solution for assessing therapeutic response in patients with advanced lung cancer. In the present study, the efficacy of a methylation marker [methylated prostaglandin E receptor 4 (mPTGER4)] and four protein markers [carcinoma antigen 125 (CA125), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19-fragments (cyfra21-1) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE)] were simultaneously evaluated to determine their potential in facilitating therapeutic response monitoring as well as their prognostic values in patients with stage IV lung cancer. The results indicated that, following treatment, the blood levels of methylated PTGER4 and NSE had significantly decreased, and mPRGER4, CA125, CEA and NSE exhibited a significant decrease in percentage level. Since mPTGER4 exhibited a higher rate of positive detection prior to therapy, and a greater response of sensitivity to therapy compared to the protein markers, it may represent an improved marker for the monitoring of therapeutic response. The efficacy of the markers in predicting the overall survival (OS) rate of patients with stage IV lung cancer was also assessed. Results from the follow-up of patients (up to 891 days) revealed that the blood levels of mPTGER4, CA125 and NSE before treatment were able to predict overall survival (OS) rate. Additionally, the percentage change in expression levels of CA125, CEA and NSE was also able to predict the OS rate. In conclusion, the present results indicate that mPTGER4 represents an improved biomarker for monitoring therapeutic efficacy compared with CA125, CEA, Cyfra21-1 and NSE. In predicting the long-term survival of patients with stage IV lung cancer; however, the pre-treatment levels of mPTGER4, CA125 and NSE and the percentage changes of CA125, CEA and NSE may be used as the markers.

Analysis on the Efficacy of Bronchial Artery Chemoembolization Combined with 125I Seed Implantation in the Therapy of Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Based on the Medical Database

“…In addition, tumor markers are important indicators to reflect the occurrence, [13]. Previously, CEA is used to detect non-organ-specific tumor antigens, while study has revealed that CEA can be synthesized and released in lung cancer cells, and its concentration was linked with cancer recurrence, invasion, and metastasis [14]. This study showed that the serum levels of CYFRA21-1, CEA, and CA125 were lower after 1 month or 3 months of treatment both in two groups, indicating that both 125I seed implantation and the combined regimen of BACE and 125I seed implantation could achieve the purpose of anticancer.…”

Effect Evaluation of Bronchial Artery Embolization for Hemoptysis of Lung Cancer and Changes in Serum Tumor Markers and miR-34 Levels

“…Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a clinically commonly used tumor sensitive marker, mainly formed in cytoplasm, transmitted by the cell membrane and secreted in extracellular and surrounding body fluids, which can be detected in serum, gastric juice, and other body fluids. With the aggravation of patients' conditions, the level of CEA will increase correspondingly [ 11 ]. Early CA125 is commonly used in clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer, prognosis judgment, and prediction of disease recurrence with high sensitivity and positive rate, while CA125 is highly expressed in the serum of lung cancer patients [ 12 ].…”

DNA methylation profiles differ in responders versus non-responders to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“… 41 42 Interestingly, methylated PTGER4 of blood samples has been shown to be a useful marker for monitoring therapy response in patient with stage IV lung cancer receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors since the levels of methylated PTGER4 significantly decreased in patients who achieved a PR. 43 Our data, therefore, imply that several genes involved in immune responses against cancer are affected by differential methylation between responders and non-responders and emphasize further research on these differentially methylated pathways and their potential role as future therapy targets.…”