Increased stathmin in serum as a potential tumor marker for lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background: Stathmin has been found to be involved in malignant tumors; the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum stathmin and clinico-pathological features of lung cancer.

Methods: In three lung cancer cell lines, stathmin expression and its secretion level in the supernatant were examined by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of stathmin was examined by immunohistochemistry in 48 lung cancer tissues, and serum stathmin expression level was examined by ELISA in 96 patients with lung cancer and 82 normal individuals. Sensitivity and specificity of serum stathmin were determined by receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC).

Results: In the three cell lines and their supernatant, stathmin levels were higher than those in 16 HBE cell line. Lung cancer tissues expressed higher level stathmin more frequently than normal lung tissue (P < 0.05). Serum stathmin level was significantly higher in the patients with lung cancer than in normal individuals (P < 0.001). Increased stathmin level in cancer tissue and serum were significantly associated with adenocarcinoma histology, lymph node metastasis and advanced stage. The threshold level of serum stathmin for distinguishing lung cancer from normal individuals was 1.86 ng/ml. The sensitivity and specificity were 93.7% and 91.5%, respectively.

Conclusions: Measurement of serum stathmin level could be a potential biomarker for lung cancer, especically those of adenocarcinoma, with lymph node metastasis and at advanced clinical stages.

Keywords: biomarker; diagnosis; lung cancer; serum; stathmin.