title: Proteomics-based identification of haptoglobin as a novel plasma biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Identification of tumor biomarkers to assist early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression may potentially decrease the mortality and morbidity associated with oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mouse model with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO)/arecoline in drinking water was established to discover stage-associated biomarkers. A proteomics approach, immunoblot and immunohistochemical analysis were used to validate the expressed biomarkers in mice with OSCC. Human plasma samples were also collected and candidate biomarkers were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proteomic profiling of mouse plasma samples indicated that haptoglobin and apolipoprotein A1 precursor were up-regulated in the mice with OSCC. Immunoblotting of plasma samples and immunohistochemical analysis of oral tissues showed a significantly higher level of haptoglobin in the OSCC mice than in the control mice. The expression of haptoglobin in human plasma samples from 52 patients with OSCC indicated a strong correlation between the increasing levels of haptoglobin and the clinical stages of OSCC (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that haptoglobin has a great potential as a sensitive plasma biomarker for early detection of patients with OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Nai-Wen
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chin-Fen
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Der
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Jim Jinn-Chyuan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Shih-Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Sing
authors.forename: Tse-Wen
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Cheng-Kuo
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Ming-Hsui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hong-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yu-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jou
authors.forename: Cheng-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D040901:Proteomics; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006242:Haptoglobins