title: Association between plasma proteome profiles analysed by mass spectrometry, a lymphocyte-based DNA-break repair assay and radiotherapy-induced acute mucosal reaction in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The plasma proteome was analysed as a potential source of markers of radiosensitivity in patients treated with definitive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute mucosal reactions that developed during radiotherapy were assessed in 55 patients. Blood samples were collected from each patient before the treatment and also from 50 healthy donors. The low-molecular-weight fraction of the plasma proteome (2,000-10,000 Da range) was analysed by the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation mass spectrometry. The capacity for DNA break repair was assessed by the comet assay using lymphocytes irradiated in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spectral components registered in plasma samples were used to build classifiers that discriminated patients from healthy individuals with about 90% specificity and sensitivity (components of 4469, 6929 and 8937 Da were the most essential for cancer classification). Four spectral components were identified (2219, 2454, 3431 and 5308 Da) whose abundances correlated with a maximal intensity of the acute reaction. Several spectral components whose abundances correlated with the rate of DNA repair in irradiated lymphocytes were also detected. Additionally, a more rapid escalation of an acute reaction was correlated with a higher level of unrepaired damage assessed by the comet assay. conclusions: The plasma proteome could be considered as a potential source of predictive markers of acute reaction in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietrowska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polańska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walaszczyk
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wygoda
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Składowski
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marczak
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stobiecki
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marczyk
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polański
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Widłak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020543:Proteome