Simple cytokeratins in the serum of patients with lung cancer: relationship to cell death.
An important role in differentiation and proliferation has been demonstrated for the 20 cytokeratin (CK) polypeptides. The serum of 24 patients with biopsy-proven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a similar number of controls was examined for evidence of CK8 and CK18. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), all the control sera were negative, but 9 of the 24 patients were positive (mean 2.62 ng/ml; range 1.4-5.8; P = 0.0036). Western blotting confirmed the results of the ELISA in all cases, and indicated full size CK polypeptides. Advanced stage disease patients were more likely to be seropositive (P = 0.00024). Biopsy specimens showed CK8 expression in all 24 cases by immunochemistry and CK18 in 22 cases. This is the first study to demonstrate that a subgroup of NSCLC patients have intact CK8 and CK18 peptides in their serum, and their detection may correlate with advanced disease.
Pendleton
N
N
J K Douglas Laboratories, Clatterbridge Cancer Research Trust, Clatterbridge Hospital, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, U.K.
Occleston
N L
NL
Walshaw
M J
MJ
Littler
J A
JA
Jack
C I
CI
Myskow
M W
MW
Green
J A
JA
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000097:blood*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D007633:Keratins