[Proteomics-based identification of proapoptotic caspase adapter protein as a novel serum marker of non-small cell lung cancer].

Background and objective Early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer contribute to a patient’s prolonged survival. Proteomics and tissue culture were used to screen potential serum markers of lung cancer. Methods The differential proteomic technique and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry were used to identify overexpressed proteins from cultured tumor tissues in a conditioned medium. Paired lung tissues in a conditioned medium were used as the control group. Overexpressed proapoptotic caspase adaptor protein (PACAP) was identified using Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The expression of nineteen protein spots exhibited a twofold increase compared with that in the control group. Fourteen of which were identified, including the distinctly overexpressed PACAP. Western blot analysis revealed a high level of PACAP in the lung adenocarcinoma in both tissue culture media and patients’ serum. Overexpressed PACAP was also detected in the serum of non-small cell lung cancer patients via ELISA compared with that in the serum of small cell lung cancer patients, benign lung tumor patients, and healthy individuals (P < 0.05). Conclusion PACAP is a potential serum marker of non-small cell lung cancer. DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2012.05.07