Serum proteomic-based analysis of pancreatic carcinoma for the identification of potential cancer biomarkers

To identify new biomarkers that improve the early diagnosis and lead to possible therapeutic targets in pancreatic carcinoma, we performed a proteomic approach to compare serum protein expression patterns of pancreatic carcinoma patients with that of gastric cancer patients, other pancreatic disease patients, and healthy volunteers. By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) analyses and mass spectroscopic identification, 10 protein spots were found significantly changed in pancreatic carcinoma and 5 proteins including cyclin 1, Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor beta (GD12), alpha-1 antitrypsin precursor, Haptoglobin precursor, and Serotransferrin precursor were successfully identified. The increased levels of cyclin I and GD12 found to be associated with pancreatic carcinoma were further confirmed by Western blot analyses in an independent series of serum samples and/or pancreatic juice samples. Applying immunohistochemistry, we further validated expression of cyclin I and GD12 in additional pancreatic carcinomas. These results indicate that cyclin I and GD12 may be potential molecular targets for pancreatic cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.