Detection and Prognostic Analysis of Serum Protein Expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer

Objective: To assess differences in serum proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients.
Methods:144 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients and 50 healthy volunteers were included in this study, withsurface-enhanced laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and weak cation exchange magneticbeads. Follow-up allowed the relations between serum proteins and prognosis to be analyzed.
Results: A total of93 protein peaks were detected (molecular weight range: 1500-30000), 10 demonstrating statistically significantdifferences. There were no differences in protein peaks between 92 patients with a survival more than 2 yearsand 52 patients with survival less than 2 years. There were two significantly different protein peaks between 45stage Ⅱ patients with a survival more than 2 years and 14 stage Ⅱ patients with survival less than 2 years. Therewas one significantly different protein peak between 22 stage Ⅲ patients with a survival more than 2 years and29 stage Ⅲ patients with survival less than 2 years.
Conclusion: Differences of serum proteins in esophagealsquamous cell carcinoma are related to prognosis of patients. The protein fingerprint can be helpful for clinicaldiagnosis and treatment.