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
New
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic MG, MH, UP/UU
Gold Member
Quality Control Material
iPLEX Pro Exome QC Panel
New
Benchtop Thermomixer
Biometra TS1 ThermoShaker
New
All-in-One Molecular System
AIO M160
Latest Pathology News
- Collaboration Applies AI Pathology to Predict Response to Antibody-Drug Conjugates
- Biomarker Predicts Immunotherapy Response and Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer
- AI Improves Completeness of Complex Cancer Pathology Reports
- AI Tool Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Tumor-Specific Biomarker Predicts Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Response in Gastric Cancer
- AI Tool Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Benefit in Breast Cancer
- AI-Based Pathology Model Guides Chemotherapy Decisions in Breast Cancer
- Biopsy-Based Gene Test Predicts Recurrence Risk in Lung Adenocarcinoma
- New Chromogenic Culture Media Enable Rapid Detection of Candida Infections
- AI-Powered Tool to Transform Dermatopathology Workflow
- AI Tool Predicts Chemotherapy Response from Biopsy Slides
- Sex Differences in Alzheimer’s Biomarkers Linked to Faster Cognitive Decline
- World’s First Optical Microneedle Device to Enable Blood-Sampling-Free Clinical Testing
- Novel mcPCR Technology to Transform Testing of Clinical Samples
- Pathogen-Agnostic Testing Reveals Hidden Respiratory Threats in Negative Samples
- Molecular Imaging to Reduce Need for Melanoma Biopsies
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Blood Test Predicts Alzheimer Disease Risk Before Imaging Changes and Symptoms
Alzheimer's disease often advances silently for years, making timely risk stratification difficult in routine practice. Current approaches to detect pathology can involve lumbar puncture or positron emission... Read more
Study Finds ApoB Testing More Effective Than LDL for Guiding Lipid Therapy
Routine blood tests that measure low-density lipoprotein (LDL), commonly known as “bad” cholesterol, are widely used to guide lipid-lowering therapy, but they do not always provide a complete picture of... Read more
AI-Enabled POC Test Quantifies Multiple Cardiac Biomarkers
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death, responsible for nearly 20 million deaths each year. Timely triage of myocardial infarction and heart failure hinges on rapid cardiac biomarker measurement,... Read more
Next Generation Automated Analyzers Increase Throughput for Clinical Chemistry and Electrolyte Testing
Clinical laboratories continue to face staffing shortages, limited space, and growing test volumes that pressure chemistry and electrolyte workflows. Maintaining rapid turnaround times increasingly depends... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Blood-Based Epigenetic Signals Enable Osteosarcoma Disease Monitoring
Osteosarcoma is a rare but aggressive pediatric bone cancer where recurrence and metastasis remain difficult to detect early. Imaging-based surveillance can miss small lesions and exposes children to repeated... Read more
Host–Virus Genetic Interactions Drive Nasopharyngeal Cancer Risk
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infects more than 95% of adults worldwide, yet only a small fraction develops EBV‑associated cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Explaining this divergence requires understanding... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Routine Blood Test Parameters Link Anemia to Cancer Risk and Mortality
Anemia detected in routine care can signal underlying pathology and is frequently encountered in adults. Because it is defined by hemoglobin levels below the normal range, it is often evaluated with red... Read more
Prognostic Tool Guides Personalized Treatment in Rare Blood Cancer
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare blood cancer in which acquired genetic mutations in bone marrow stem cells drive disease. Stem cell transplantation is the only curative option but carries... Read more
Microbiology
view channel
Rapid Color Test Stratifies Virulent and Resistant Staph Strains
Staphylococcus aureus (golden staph) remains a leading cause of infection-related mortality worldwide, responsible for more than a million deaths each year. Rapidly distinguishing highly virulent or a... Read more
Syndromic Panel Enables Rapid Identification of Bloodstream Infections
Bloodstream infections require rapid identification of causative pathogens and resistance determinants to guide therapy, yet laboratories often face pressure to deliver clinically relevant results quickly... Read more
RNA-Based Workflow Identifies Active Skin Microbes for Dermatology Research
Human skin carries diverse microbial communities that influence barrier function and inflammation, yet identifying which organisms are metabolically active has been challenging. DNA-based surveys catalog... Read more
Cost-Effective Sampling and Sequencing Workflow Identifies ICU Infection Hotspots
Intensive care units face persistent threats from hospital-acquired infections, increasingly driven by drug-resistant bacteria. Rapidly pinpointing environmental reservoirs and transmission hotspots remains... Read morePathology
view channel
Biomarker Predicts Immunotherapy Response and Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is common and often lethal, and therapeutic decision-making is complicated by heterogeneous tumor microenvironments. Immunotherapy benefits only a small subset of patients, around 5%,... Read more
Collaboration Applies AI Pathology to Predict Response to Antibody-Drug Conjugates
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) are reshaping oncology, yet scalable biomarkers that reliably predict which patients will benefit remain limited as treatment regimens and combinations grow more complex.... Read more
Technology
view channel
AI Tool Predicts Non-Response to Targeted Therapy in Colorectal Cancer
Advanced bowel cancer remains difficult to treat, and many patients receive targeted therapies that do not help them but still cause harm. Clinicians need reliable ways to identify likely responders before... Read more
Integrated System Streamlines Pre-Analytical Workflow for Molecular Testing
Pre-analytical variation remains a leading source of inconsistent molecular test results and added costs, particularly when laboratories rely on multiple instruments and protocols. Standardizing nucleic... Read more
Industry
view channel
Partnership Expands Ultrasensitive WGS Assay for for Hematologic Malignancies and MRD Monitoring
Tempus AI and Predicta Biosciences announced the commercial expansion of a co-branded whole‑genome sequencing assay GenoPredicta, which is intended for comprehensive genomic characterization of hematologic... Read more
