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
Portable POCT Blood Gas Analyzer
BD100
Gold Member
Blood-Based Protein Biomarker Solution for Alzheimer's Disease
BG-DTi2000.
Latest Pathology News
- Breakthrough-Designated Cytology Test Supports Oral Cancer Risk Assessment
- Review Highlights Progress and Validation Needs for AI in Digital Pathology
- Roche Launches Automated Test to Support Mesothelioma Differential Diagnosis
- AI Pathology Approach Closely Aligns With Breast Cancer Genomic Risk Classification
- Digital Pathology Test Stratifies Recurrence Risk in Early Breast Cancer
- AI Pathology Tool Predicts DNA Repair Deficiency in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
- 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
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Blood Protein Analysis Reveals Menopause-Associated Signals of Brain Aging
Menopause affects women across midlife and is often accompanied by endocrine changes, hot flashes, brain fog and sleep disturbances. Women spend roughly one third of their lives after the menopause transition,... Read more
Cystatin C Testing Helps Distinguish Abemaciclib Effect from Kidney Injury
Kidney function monitoring in breast cancer care often relies on serum creatinine, a routine blood marker used to estimate renal function. However, creatinine increases in patients receiving abemaciclib... Read more
Blood-Based Score May Support Targeted Interventions for Healthier Aging
Chronic diseases frequently accumulate with age, complicating efforts to maintain functional independence in older adults. Studies cited by the investigators indicate that about 60% of people over age... Read more
Noninvasive Tests Offer Alternatives to Biopsy for Assessing Advanced Liver Scarring
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects up to one in three adults worldwide and as many as seven in 10 people with obesity or type 2 diabetes. Its more severe form, metabolic... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Genomic Profiling Predicts Relapse Risk by Subtype in Pediatric Leukemia
B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most common childhood cancer, with more than 90% of patients surviving with modern treatments. Outcomes are worse when the disease returns, however, making... Read more
AI-Supported Approach May Improve Cervical Cancer Screening in Low-Resource Settings
Cervical cancer screening coverage often remains below 15% in low- and middle-income countries. Limited accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid, together with uneven access to high-quality human... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Newly Certified FISH Probes Support Cytogenetic Testing in Blood Cancers
Hematological malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphoid leukemia, and multiple myeloma require assessment of key cytogenetic abnormalities.... Read more
Genetic Testing Offers Opportunities for Earlier Blood Disorder Carrier Identification
Inherited hemoglobin disorders can affect oxygen transport, yet individuals who carry only a trait may remain unaware of their status. People with sickle cell trait or beta-thalassemia trait often have... Read more
New Risk-Stratification Tool Predicts Relapse After Blinatumomab in Childhood ALL
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and young people requires careful assessment of relapse risk, particularly as treatment approaches move beyond standard chemotherapy. Traditional relapse predictors... Read more
Microbiology
view channel
Stool Testing Predicts UTI Risk and Guides Antibiotic Selection
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common reason for antibiotic prescribing in general medical practice and can be painful in postmenopausal women, sometimes progressing to kidney infection or life-threatening... Read more
Rapid Host-Response Assay Gains FDA Clearance to Help Distinguish Bacterial and Viral Infections
Bacterial and viral infections often cause similar symptoms, making early differentiation difficult in emergency and urgent care settings. Clinicians may need to begin treatment before traditional diagnostic... Read more
Repeat Prenatal STI Screening and Treatment May Reduce Preterm Births
Preterm birth remains a major obstetric concern and is associated with serious complications in early childhood. Common sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy often cause no symptoms, making... Read more
Decentralized Laboratory Network Improves Detection of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in Guinea
Viral hemorrhagic fevers remain a major diagnostic challenge in West Africa because their early symptoms can resemble those of other febrile illnesses. The 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic underscored the need... Read morePathology
view channel
Review Highlights Progress and Validation Needs for AI in Digital Pathology
Pathology remains the gold standard for disease diagnosis, but clinical laboratories face growing demands for faster, more reproducible diagnostic and prognostic workflows. Digital pathology based on whole-slide... Read more
Breakthrough-Designated Cytology Test Supports Oral Cancer Risk Assessment
Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers remain a significant diagnostic challenge, with more than 60,000 Americans expected to be diagnosed in 2026 and more than 13,000 expected to die from these cancers.... Read more
AI Pathology Approach Closely Aligns With Breast Cancer Genomic Risk Classification
In early-stage breast cancer, precision oncology relies on biological information to guide personalized treatment decisions. Because access to tissue-based genomic testing may be limited, there is growing... Read more
Technology
view channel
Multi-Agent AI Framework Supports Laboratory Quality and Workflow Monitoring
Clinical laboratories analyze blood, urine, tissue, and other bodily fluids to support disease diagnosis and treatment. Rising test volumes, workforce shortages, and increasingly complex diagnostics are... Read more
Personal PCR Analyzer Aims to Enable At-Home Infectious Disease Testing
PCR amplifies DNA to enable highly accurate testing, but its reliance on complex, expensive laboratory analyzers has traditionally kept many workflows in centralized settings. A new personal DNA analyzer... Read more
Industry
view channel
Illumina Selected to Support National Genomics Study for Personalized Healthcare in Singapore
Singapore’s National Precision Medicine program is using genomic and health data to support more preventive and personalized healthcare. Its latest phase expands beyond healthy volunteers to people with... Read more
