Prediction of lung cancer risk using circulating pro-surfactant protein B and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein among Egyptian workers in the rubber industry

Abstract

Objective: For several decades, there has been increasing evidence for excess incidence of lung cancer among workers in the rubber industry. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of lung cancer occurrence among Egyptian workers involved in the rubber industry using two circulating protein biomarkers. Methods: This study was performed in a rubber manufacturing factory in Shubra El-Kheima region in Greater Cairo, Egypt. Environmental assessment for the suspended particulate matter of size 10 µm (PM10) concentrations was done. Levels of plasma pro-surfactant protein B (pro-SFTPB) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) were measured among the studied population ( n = 155) who were divided into two groups. The first group included 75 workers exposed to rubber manufacturing process while the control group involved 80 administrative subjects. Results: The levels of PM10 neither exceeded the Egyptian nor the international permissible limits where the highest levels were observed in the mixing department. However, through medical history and clinical examination, it was observed that some general and respiratory manifestations were more prevalent among the exposed group when compared with their controls. Laboratory investigations revealed that the mean values of pro-SFTPB and HsCRP levels among exposed workers were significantly higher than those of the control group. These increased circulating proteins levels were strongly and positively correlated with each other and with the duration of employment of exposed workers. Conclusion: The study results support the conclusion that prolonged occupational exposure to rubber manufacturing process is associated with an elevated risk of lung cancer.

Pulmonary surfactant‐associated protein B regulates prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase‐2 and inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…and then processed into mature SFTPB (8 kDa) through a series of proteolytic cleavages at both the N and C termini of the protein (Um et al, 2013). Based on its water soluble properties and the association with SFTPB, pro-SFTPB may present a promising biomarker for evaluating disease severity and perhaps even disease activity in COPD, lung cancer and other lung diseases (Um et al, 2013;Mourad, 2020), while SFTPB is hydrophobic, limiting its suitability as a biomarker.…”

Molecular Impact of Conventional and Electronic Cigarettes on Pulmonary Surfactant

“…Several studies have shown that the serum expression level of pro-surfactant protein B (pro-SFTPB) is increased in patients with lung cancer, with a poor prognosis and shorter survival, thus indicating a diagnostic and prognostic role of serum pro-SFTPB in detecting human cancer [224][225][226][227]. Indeed, lung cancer cells show dysregulated SFTPB synthesis with the overexpression of pro-SFTPB and an inability to post-translationally modify the precursor into the mature SP-B form.…”