UP scientists discover potential biomarkers for lung-cancer detection

MANILA, Philippines — A group of scientists from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman has identified potential biomarkers for lung cancer that could help in detecting and determining cancer subtypes, effectively reducing mortality rates.

READ: Lung cancer: The deadliest type of cancer in PH

According to the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) in a statement, its scientists began searching for biomarkers due to the lack of reliable indicators for detecting non-small cell lung carcinoma or NSCLC (the most common type of lung cancer), specifically lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Biomarkers refer to measurable indicators in lung cancer management that help identify lung cancer subtypes, guide treatment options and predict outcomes.

With this, several scientists conducted a “quantitative proteomics analysis” to examine total protein levels in tumor and adjacent normal tissue specimens from early-stage Filipino NSCLC LUAD patients, which resulted in the identification of 4,403 proteins “with irregular expression in tumors.”

A total of 33 of these proteins were then identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers.

‘Poor 5-year survival rate’

“These proteins have aberrant expression in both gene and protein levels, and their gene levels are correlated with poor 5-year survival rate of NSCLC patients,” Dr. Baby Rorielyn Dimayacyac-Esleta of the UPD-CS Institute of Chemistry (IC) said.

Upon identification, the 33 proteins can now be prioritized for qualification, verification, and validation in the biomarker development pipeline.

“These proteins can be tested for possible application in the diagnosis of NSCLC to complement existing diagnostic methods such chest radiography, low dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan, and bronchoscopic examination, and significantly enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of detection,” Esleta said.

The UPD-CS said Esleta and her team are now working on the establishment of the targeted proteomics pipeline in IC’s Clinical Proteomics Laboratory to continue efforts in providing diagnostic protein biomarkers in the clinic.

Their research paper, titled “Discovery of Key Candidate Protein Biomarkers in Early-Stage Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma through Quantitative Proteomics,” has also been included in the international Journal of Proteome Research.

Along with Esleta, Dr. Ferdinand Mira, Lara Beatrice Suñga, Venus Pondevida from the UPD-CS’ IC; Lorenzo Zarate, Ben Joshua Porras, Dave Laurence Juntilla, and Dr. Eloise Prieto of the UPD-CS National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; and Dr. Sullian Naval, Dr. Treah May Sayo, and Dr. Herdee Gloriane Luna of the Lung Center of the Philippines formed the team that made the discovery of the potential biomarkers possible.