Research Roundup: diagnostic and prognostic cancer markers

Are you interested in seeing more of our antibodies in action? The following three studies have successfully utilized our antibodies to suggest or identify new biomarkers for different human cancers. Keep reading.

1. IgG Fc binding protein (FCGBP) is downregulated in metastatic lesions and predicts survival in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

In metastatic colorectal cancer, resistance to chemotherapy limits treatment efficacy due to individual differences and drug targets. A new study provides additional clinical biomarkers for prognosis improvement proposing alternative clinical options.

In this study, IgG-binding protein and colorectal cancer biomarker FCGBP are downregulated with disease progression. Additionally, the authors observed the relationship between FCGBP expression and the clinical features of liver metastases of colorectal cancer, showing a connection with better outcomes for patients with liver metastasis.

This study utilized our anti-FCGBP polyclonal antibody (HPA003564) in IHC on FFPE-processed human tumor tissues.

Ref: Yuan Z, Zhao Z, Hu H, Zhu Y, Zhang W, Tang Q, Huang R, Gao F, Zou C, Wang G, Wang X. IgG Fc Binding Protein (FCGBP) is Down-Regulated in Metastatic Lesions and Predicts Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients. Onco Targets Ther. 2021;14:967-977.

Figure 1. Representative immunohistochemistry staining pictures of FCGBP. High expression in CRC tissue and liver metastatic tissue (10× for A, B, SI=10) and low expression (10× for C, D, SI=1) for FCGBP protein are shown. (E) The immunohistochemistry score of FCGBP protein in PC and LM, ***p<0.001. (F, G) Positive and negative controls for FCGBP immunohistochemistry. Image from Yuan et al. 2021.

2. Soluble protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (PTPRZ) in cerebrospinal fluid is a potential diagnostic marker for glioma.

Non-invasive imaging of brain tumors like malignant gliomas has limited diagnostic strength. This means that biopsies, which can cause harm and adverse events, often need to be taken. An alternative route could be to measure the presence of critical biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

CSF sampling represents a largely non-invasive method that, together with non-invasive imaging, could provide accurate information about the tumor being investigated.

In this paper, the authors identify soluble PTPRZ (phosphacan) as a promising marker for malignant glioma. If this finding can be replicated, soluble PTPRZ can be added to the shortlist of tumor markers measurable in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with glioma.

This study used our anti-PTPRZ polyclonal antibody (HPA015103) for IHC on FFPE glioma tissue.

Ref: Yamanoi Y, Fujii M, Murakami Y, Nagai K, Hoshi K, Hashimoto Y, Honda T, Saito K, Kitazume S, Soluble protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (PTPRZ) in cerebrospinal fluid is a potential diagnostic marker for glioma. Neuro-Oncology Advances, 2020;2(1).

Figure 2. PTPRZ protein is expressed in glioma cells. (A) Schematic structure of PTPRZ, showing the position of chondroitin sulfate (CS), keratan sulfate (KS), N-glycan, and the unusual HNK1-capped branched O-Man glycan. Regions recognized by the anti-PTPRZ and Cat-315 antibody used in these analyses are indicated. (B–J) Glioblastoma (B–D), oligodendroglioma (E–G), and schwannoma (H–J) sections were analyzed by H&E staining (B, E, and H), in addition to immunohistochemical staining using anti-PTPRZ (C, F, and I) and Cat-315 (D, G, and J) antibodies. (B, C), (E, F), and (H–J) are derived from serial sections. Arrowheads indicate “microvascular proliferation,” one of the characteristic findings of glioblastoma. Asterisks indicate vessels on the schwannoma sections. Please note that glioma cells are both PTPRZ- and Cat-315-positive, while schwannoma cells are only PTPRZ-positive. Vascular structures of both glioblastoma and schwannoma are PTPRZ-negative. Scale bars, 100 µm. Image from Yamanoi et al. 2020.

3. Sirtuin1 expression and survival in endometrial and clear-cell uterine cancer.

The study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the histone deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in endometrioid and clear-cell cancer of the uterus. Most previous studies have only reported overexpression of SIRT1 in endometrial and endothelial ovarian cancer types.

The study shows that SIRT was significantly higher in endometroid carcinoma than in uterine clear cell carcinoma. SIRT1 predicted better overall survival in endometroid cancer of the uterus than in patients lacking SIRT1. Progression-free survival was better in uterine endometrioid and clear-cell carcinoma for patients with SIRT1 expressed.

These results are the first to report a correlation between SIRT1 and survival in uterine cancer. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of SIRT1 in uterine and ovarian cancer and its potential as a therapeutic target.

This study used our anti-SIRT1 polyclonal antibody (HPA006295) on a tissue microarray of endometrioid uterine carcinoma.

Ref: Beyer, S., Chen, F., Meister, S. et al. Sirtuin1 expression and survival in endometrial and clear-cell uterine cancer. Histochem Cell Biol 2020;154,189–195.

Figure 3. Sirtuin1 expression in endometrioid uterine carcinoma with an IRS score of 4. examples of Sirtuin1 positive cells are marked by the arrow →. Image from Beyer et al., 2020.

Did you find this blog interesting?

Take a look at other studies that have successfully utilized our antibodies.
Research Roundup: prognostic biomarkers in cancer

Research Roundup: cell biology

Research roundup: neuroscience

Have you published using our antibodies? Let us know!