title: ProteinChip array profiling for identification of disease- and chemotherapy-associated biomarkers of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously used ProteinChip array profiling analysis to discover a serum biomarker associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we used the same method to examine other biomarkers associated with NPC and response to chemotherapy (CT) in NPC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed ProteinChip array analysis in 209 serum samples from 66 relapsed patients before and after salvage CT with gemcitabine and cisplatin or etoposide and cisplatin combinations, 11 patients in remission, and 35 healthy individuals. Intensities of the biomarker peaks were correlated with CT response of the patients and other clinical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We discovered 13 candidate biomarkers associated with different clinical parameters. Two biomarkers (2803 and 3953 Da) were significantly increased in patients compared with controls at all stages of disease. Analysis of pre- and post-CT paired serum samples revealed 7 biomarkers correlated with impact of CT. Of these 7 biomarkers, 2 (2509 and 2756 Da) were significantly increased and 5 (7588, 7659, 7765, 7843, and 8372 Da) were significantly decreased post-CT in either 1 or both CT cohorts. Four biomarkers from pre-CT sera were correlated with CT response, with 3 (2950, 13 510, and 14 855 Da) being significantly decreased and 1 (6701 Da) significantly increased in patients who did not respond to CT. Tandem mass spectrometric sequencing and/or immunoaffinity capture assay identified the 3953 Da biomarker as a fragment of interalpha-trypsin inhibitor precursor and 7765 Da biomarker as platelet factor-4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment-associated serum biomarkers found might serve to triage NPC patients for appropriate CT treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: William C S
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Timothy T C
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Roger K C
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ngan
authors.forename: Tai-Tung
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Vladimir N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Podust
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Harry H Y
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yiu
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Wai-Wai
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Victor W S
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Stephen C K
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Law
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000032:analysis; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011498:Protein Precursors; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; C011877:inter-alpha-inhibitor; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine