N-glycolylneuraminic acid serum biomarker levels are elevated in breast cancer patients at all stages of disease
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Normal human tissues do not express glycans terminating with the sialic acid N -glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), yet Neu5Gc-containing glycans have been consistently found in human tumor tissues, cells and secretions and have been proposed as a cancer biomarker. We engineered a Neu5Gc-specific lectin called SubB2M, and previously reported elevated Neu5Gc biomarkers in serum from ovarian cancer patients using a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based assay. Here we report an optimized SubB2M SPR-based assay and use this new assay to analyse sera from breast cancer patients for Neu5Gc levels. Methods To enhance specificity of our SPR-based assay, we included a non-sialic acid binding version of SubB, SubB A12 , to control for any non-specific binding to SubB2M, which improved discrimination of cancer-free controls from early-stage ovarian cancer. We analysed 96 serum samples from breast cancer patients at all stages of disease compared to 22 cancer-free controls using our optimized SubB2M- A12 -SPR assay. We also analysed a collection of serum samples collected at 6 monthly intervals from breast cancer patients at high risk for disease recurrence or spread. Results Analysis of sera from breast cancer cases revealed significantly elevated levels of Neu5Gc biomarkers at all stages of breast cancer. We show that Neu5Gc serum biomarker levels can discriminate breast cancer patients from cancer-free individuals with 98.96% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Analysis of serum collected prospectively, post-diagnosis, from breast cancer patients at high risk for disease recurrence showed a trend for a decrease in Neu5Gc levels immediately following treatment for those in remission. Conclusions Neu5Gc serum biomarkers are a promising new tool for early detection and disease monitoring for breast cancer that may complement current imaging- and biopsy-based approaches.
Source: BMC Cancer
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,790
Funders: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Victorian Cancer Agency, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation, State Government of Victoria, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Council Victoria
Awards: G155279971, Proteins and glycans in host-pathogen interactions: targets for novel drugs and vaccines, G4119534169, DETECTION OF ABERRANTLY GLYCOSYLATED BIOMARKERS AS A NOVEL APPROACH TO DIAGNOSE AND MONITOR BREAST CANCER, Translating molecular determinants of susceptibility and progression in breast cancer, G7448966117, Targeting glycointeractions to generate new opportunities to treat and prevent bacterial infections., Novel perspectives on the function of AB5 toxin B subunits
OpenAlex ID: W4226360703