Plasma decorin predicts the presence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Using a microarray technique, we found decorin to be underexpressed, but osteopontin (OPN) to be overexpressed, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study aims to examine whether plasma decorin and OPN plus personal substances use (tobacco, alcohol and areca) can serve as suitable clinical markers to predict the presence of ESCC. In total, 570 archived plasma specimens (275 patients and 295 controls) were collected from 2 medical centers in Taiwan between 2000 and 2008. Decorin and OPN protein levels were measured by ELISA. Means and standard deviation of plasma decorin were 5.6 + or - 3.6 ng/ml in case patients, which were significantly lower than those in controls (7.8 + or - 3.1, p < 0.0001). Plasma OPN levels in case patients were not significantly different from controls (p = 0.33). When compared to subjects with the lowest quartile of plasma decorin, those with the highest quartile one had a significantly lower risk to have ESCC (Adjusted OR = 0.03, p < 0.001). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed for the combination of plasma decorin and 3 substances use (smoke, alcohol and areca) for the patients compared with the controls. The area under the curve was 88.6% and the optimal cut-point of ROC curve (any 3 factors) had 73.5% sensitivity and 90.2% specificity with approximately 82% of corrected classification. Plasma decorin, but not OPN, is a potential clinical marker for the detection of ESCC. When plasma decorin plus the use of the 3 substances are combined, this factor cluster could be used to detect the presence of ESCC.
Division of Gastroentology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
I-Chen
IC
Wu
Deng-Chyang
DC
Wu
Chun-Chi
CC
Huang
Hung-Shun
HS
Lin
Yu-Kuei
YK
Chen
Hui-Jen
HJ
Tsai
Chieh-Yu
CY
Lu
Shah-Hwa
SH
Chou
Yi-Ping
YP
Chou
Ling-Hui
LH
Li
Shu-Yu
SY
Tai
Ming-Tsang
MT
Wu
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D058575:Decorin; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000097:blood*; D012907:Smoking
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D053495:Osteopontin