title: Elevated Serum Levels of SCUBE1, a Marker for Coagulation, in Patients with Breast Cancer.
abstract: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women and a major cause of death. Signal Peptide-Cub-Epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein-1 (SCUBE1) is secreted under hypoxia and inflammatory conditions from platelet alpha granules. Its biological function is uncertain, although it may be a procoagulant substance in cancer patients. SCUBE1 is useful for identifying thrombotic diseases, including cancers and acute coronary syndromes. D-dimer reflects the relationship between coagulation activation and fibrinolysis; namely, thrombosis and D-dimer levels are closely linked. This is the first investigation of the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of SCUBE1 levels in patients with BC. Fifty patients and 33 age-matched and body mass index-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected before chemotherapy regimens commenced. Serum SCUBE1 and D-dimer levels were measured before adjuvant chemotherapy and were compared to the healthy controls. SCUBE1 levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. SCUBE1 and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in patients than in the controls (p = 0.03 and p < 0.001, respectively). A cut-off value of 1.55 ng/mL for SCUBE1 was associated with 62% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity and with positive predictive value of 77.5% and negative predictive value of 55.8%. Two patients with high SCUBE1 and D-dimer levels also developed pulmonary embolism. SCUBE1 may indicate hypercoagulability in patients with BC and thus help identify patients at greater risk of thrombosis and requiring anti-thrombosis treatment. SCUBE1 may also be used as an assistant test for identifying patients at risk of BC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Turkan Ozturk
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Topcu
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kavgaci
authors.forename: Feyyaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Asude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mentese
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.forename: Gulnihal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tufan
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orem
authors.forename: Fazil
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C469998:SCUBE1 protein, human