title: Identification of actin beta-like 2 (ACTBL2) as novel, upregulated protein in colorectal cancer.
abstract: Early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) can be of value for increasing the survival rate of patients. Recently, proteomic strategies to identify markers for the diagnosis of cancer at an early stage have been employed with noteworthy results. To extend these studies, we utilized two dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry for expression profiling of proteins extracted from the freshly frozen human colorectal cancer tissue specimens and the comparable regions of adjacent normal mucosa (serving as controls). Four gel spots were determined to be differentially stained between the tumor and the control samples on a consistent basis. Following mass spectrometric analysis of these spots, six proteins were identified; five of these had previously been reported to be associated with colorectal cancer. One protein actin beta-like 2 (ACTBL2), not linked with colorectal cancer in the earlier reports, was however found to be at higher abundance in colorectal tumor samples both by proteomics and immunohistochemistry analysis. Thus ACTBL2 association and differential upregulation in colorectal cancer is novel, and as such may contribute to our understanding of the colorectal carcinogenesis and potentially serve a function in developing markers for colorectal cancer.
  
  
  
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of death world-wide and good markers for early detection are lacking. In this study we conducted a proteomic analysis of tumor vs. normal tissue. We corroborated the finding of a number of previously identified proteins associated with CRC and more importantly identified a novel protein, ACTBL2, which we demonstrated to be upregulated in CRC. As additional proteins associated with CRC are identified the potential for developing panels of markers may be realized with better outcomes in early cancer detection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghazanfar
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Iram
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.affiliation: Surgical Unit 2, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.affiliation: Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Ghulam
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Musharraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908., United States.
authors.forename: Nicholas E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of the Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moskaluk
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908., United States.
authors.forename: Jay W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan; School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: mwa.sbs@pu.edu.pk.
authors.forename: M Waheed
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: saima.ibb@pu.edu.pk.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadaf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins
keywords: ACTBL2; Colorectal cancer; Mass spectrometric analysis; Protein biomarkers; Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis