Novel Biomarker Identified for Two Different Cancers
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 17 Apr 2014 |
|
Image: Histopathology of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (Photo courtesy of Masaryk University).
A new biomarker linked to better outcomes for patients with head and neck cancers and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been identified.
The biomarker could help scientists develop new diagnostics and therapies and help physicians determine the best long-term treatments for patients with these cancers.
Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh (PA, USA) examined tumor samples from 187 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and 60 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). The median follow-up for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for NSCLC patients was 69.0 months and 35.9 months, respectively. The median follow-up for HNSCC patients was 41 months.
The team used antibody-based immunological techniques, cell cultures, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry and in situ quantification. For tumor analysis, tissue microarrays of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumors and control tissues were used. Each tumor was represented by three distinct cores for NSCLC and two for HNSCC. The nuclear signal intensity was quantified by automated quantitative analysis for NSCLC and Aperio software for HNSCC (Aperio Technologies, Vista, CA, USA).
The investigators found that the expression of a protein called choline phosphate cytidylyltransferase-α CCT-α or CCTα, which acts as an “antigen” that prompts the immune system to produce antibodies against it. CCTα was associated with longer survival rates, including for patients with NSCLC who were treated with surgery alone, without the use of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs and associated toxic side effects.
Laura J. Niedernhofer, MD, PhD, an associate professor and a senior author of the study said, “Based on what we found, a high CCTα expression appears to be indicative of survival, making CCTα a promising biomarker. Our findings suggest that CCTα may, in fact, be more important in determining outcomes in patients with both types of cancer than the already established excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) protein.”
Related Links:
University of Pittsburgh
Aperio Technologies
The biomarker could help scientists develop new diagnostics and therapies and help physicians determine the best long-term treatments for patients with these cancers.
Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh (PA, USA) examined tumor samples from 187 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and 60 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). The median follow-up for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for NSCLC patients was 69.0 months and 35.9 months, respectively. The median follow-up for HNSCC patients was 41 months.
The team used antibody-based immunological techniques, cell cultures, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry and in situ quantification. For tumor analysis, tissue microarrays of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumors and control tissues were used. Each tumor was represented by three distinct cores for NSCLC and two for HNSCC. The nuclear signal intensity was quantified by automated quantitative analysis for NSCLC and Aperio software for HNSCC (Aperio Technologies, Vista, CA, USA).
The investigators found that the expression of a protein called choline phosphate cytidylyltransferase-α CCT-α or CCTα, which acts as an “antigen” that prompts the immune system to produce antibodies against it. CCTα was associated with longer survival rates, including for patients with NSCLC who were treated with surgery alone, without the use of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs and associated toxic side effects.
Laura J. Niedernhofer, MD, PhD, an associate professor and a senior author of the study said, “Based on what we found, a high CCTα expression appears to be indicative of survival, making CCTα a promising biomarker. Our findings suggest that CCTα may, in fact, be more important in determining outcomes in patients with both types of cancer than the already established excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) protein.”
Related Links:
University of Pittsburgh
Aperio Technologies
Platinum Member
Automated Coagulation Analyzer
Hemolumi H6
Electrolyte Analyzer
BKE-B
Gold Member
Blood-Based Protein Biomarker Solution for Alzheimer's Disease
BG-DTi2000.
Latest Pathology News
- AI Tissue Analysis May Help Identify Missed Precancerous Colon Polyps
- AI Pre-Screening Helps Identify Lung Cancer Cases for Additional Biomarker Testing
- AI Pathology Platform Targets Workflow Delays and Molecular Test Failures
- Updated Digital Pathology Platform Expands AI Integration for Cancer Diagnosis
- Molecular Testing Refines Barrett’s Esophagus Progression Risk Beyond Biopsy Findings
- AI Histopathology Tool Distinguishes Ewing Sarcoma for Diagnosis
- Rapid Mass Spectrometry Test May Aid Glioma Margin Decisions
- Genomic Classifier Predicts Benefit From Adding Hormone Therapy to Salvage Prostate Radiation
- Multimodal AI Supports Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Across Diverse Cohorts
- New AI Model Maps Where Glioblastoma Could Return After Surgery
- Simple Test Could Reduce the Need for Invasive Uterine Cancer Checks
- Tumor Blood Vessel Features May Help Predict Colorectal Cancer Survival
- Multimodal AI Improves Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk Prediction Beyond Standard Genomic Testing
- Machine Learning Cytology Tool Improves Cancer Cell Identification
- CAP Updates Cancer Protocols to Refine Breast Cancer Biomarker Reporting and GIST Molecular Testing
- Tumor Budding Grading May Predict Chemotherapy Benefit in Resected Lung Squamous Cancer
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Daily Blood Biomarker Testing May Help Guide Earlier Antibiotic Stopping in Sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s overwhelming response to infection and accounts for thousands of deaths each year. In intensive care, concern about stopping treatment too early... Read more
Blood Proteins Reveal Signals Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk Years Before Diagnosis
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men worldwide. While many tumors grow slowly, aggressive forms can be life-threatening, underscoring the need for earlier risk identification.... Read more
Two-Step Blood Testing Approach Reduces Uncertainty in Amyloid Assessment
Blood-based biomarkers offer a more accessible, less expensive way to detect Alzheimer’s-related brain changes than traditional methods such as amyloid-beta positron emission tomography (Aβ-PET).... Read more
Multimodal Platform to Combine Blood and Imaging Biomarkers for Lung Nodule Assessment
Lung nodules are commonly detected during chest imaging and require careful risk assessment to determine whether follow-up imaging, additional testing, or biopsy is needed. With millions of patients evaluated... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
AI Tool Predicts Immunotherapy Response Using Tumor Senescence Signals
Patients receiving the same cancer immunotherapy can have markedly different outcomes, with some showing little or no response. Identifying these patients earlier could reduce the costs of ineffective... Read more
New Variant Tracking Option Expands Molecular Residual Disease Monitoring
Molecular residual disease (MRD) testing can detect traces of cancer that persist after treatment or emerge during recurrence. Because circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may be present at very low levels, residual... Read more
Hematology
view channel
New Myelofibrosis Guidelines Recommend Expanded Genetic Testing at Diagnosis
Myelofibrosis is a rare, life-threatening blood cancer affecting up to six per 100,000 people. The disease causes scarring in the bone marrow, limiting the production of healthy blood cells and potentially... Read more
Handheld Point-of-Care Test Aims to Enable Rapid Coagulation Assessment in Trauma
Severe blood loss and inadequate tissue oxygenation are leading causes of preventable death after traumatic injury. Blood products are essential in trauma care, but cold-chain storage, short shelf life,... Read more
Microbiology
view channel
Molecular Panel Gains WHO Emergency Use Listing to Support Ebola Outbreak Response
The ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries has become one of the largest outbreaks of this Ebola virus species recorded to date.... Read more
Rapid Host-Response Test Aims to Predict Corticosteroid Benefit in Sepsis
Sepsis and severe infections are difficult to treat because patients with similar clinical presentations may have very different underlying immune responses. Corticosteroids are commonly used in severe... Read more
Pathology
view channel
AI Tissue Analysis May Help Identify Missed Precancerous Colon Polyps
Colorectal cancer is diagnosed in an estimated 1.9 million people worldwide each year, often without symptoms in its early stages. Timely detection of precancerous lesions is therefore important, yet some... Read more
AI Pre-Screening Helps Identify Lung Cancer Cases for Additional Biomarker Testing
Tempus AI (Chicago, IL, USA) will present findings from a study evaluating an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled pre-screening panel for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the ESMO Congress... Read more
AI Pathology Platform Targets Workflow Delays and Molecular Test Failures
Pathology laboratories often rely on visual review of tissue slides to assess quality, identify tumors, count mitoses, and estimate tumor content. These tasks can be time-consuming and vary between readers,... Read more
Molecular Testing Refines Barrett’s Esophagus Progression Risk Beyond Biopsy Findings
Barrett’s esophagus is a precancerous condition associated with increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Routine endoscopic biopsy findings guide surveillance and therapy, but histopathology may not... Read moreTechnology
view channel
New AI-Powered System Aims to Streamline Laboratory and Manufacturing Workflows
Scientific laboratories supporting drug development, biotechnology, and materials research increasingly rely on coordinated digital workflows to move data, samples, and activities across teams.... Read more
Laser-Based Swab Analysis Shows Promise for Detecting Disease-Linked Odor Patterns
Disease-related changes in volatile organic compounds can alter body odor, producing measurable patterns in exhaled breath and bodily fluids. Current analytical methods can be complex, time-consuming,... Read more
Industry
view channel
Collaboration to Expand Cervical Cancer Screening Access With At-Home HPV Collection
Cervical cancer is largely preventable with regular screening and early detection of human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of the disease. Screening gaps persist, in part because traditional sample... Read more
Alzheimer’s Progression Blood Test Gains U.S. Patent Ahead of Planned Launch
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for an estimated 60–70% of cases worldwide. Its progressive effects on memory, thinking, behavior, and daily functioning underscore... Read more
