Serum LOX-1 is a novel prognostic biomarker of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. If biomarkers can be identified in liquid biopsy, diagnosis and treatment can be optimized even when cancerous tissues are not available. The purpose of this study was to identify proteins from liquid biopsy that would be useful as markers of poor prognosis. METHODS: First, we comprehensively analyzed serum proteins to identify potential biomarkers and focused on serum lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1). The relationship between LOX-1 and the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer has not been reported. Next, we validated this marker using serum samples from 238 patients with colorectal cancer by ELISA and 100 tissue samples by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The optimal cut-off value of serum LOX-1 was 538.7 pg/mL according to time-dependent receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. The overall survival of patients with high levels of serum LOX-1 was significantly poorer than that of individuals with low levels of LOX-1 in the training and test datasets. In multivariate analysis for overall survival, serum LOX-1 was an independent prognostic factor identified in liquid biopsy (hazard ratio = 1.729, p = 0.027). The prognosis of patients with high LOX-1 expression in tumor tissues was significantly poorer than that of individuals with low expression (p =0.047 ). Additionally, inflammatory factors such as white blood cell count, C-reactive protein level, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio were significantly higher in the group with high serum LOX-1 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Serum LOX-1 might be a useful biomarker of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Serum CCL7 Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer globally, and the poor prognosis of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) warrants urgent attention. We previously obtained 10 candidate serum biomarkers for mCRC. Our aim with this study was to determine the prognostic performance of the pre-treatment serum C-C motif chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7) concentration in patients with mCRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Protein concentrations of CCL7 were examined using ELISA and immunohistochemistry for serum (n=110) and surgical specimens (n=85), respectively, of patients with mCRC. The relationship between protein concentration and prognosis was examined using Cox regression analysis, receiver operator characteristic curve analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) of patients with high concentrations of serum CCL7 was significantly poorer than that of patients with low concentrations. Patients with a high CCL7 concentration in the stroma had significantly poorer outcomes than those with a low concentration. The concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were significantly higher in the high-CCL7 group, compared to those in the low-CCL7 group. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that serum CCL7 concentration was a significant prognostic factor for mCRC. The combination of serum CCL and CEA concentrations was also useful in this regard (area under the curve=0.71). CONCLUSION: The combined pre-treatment serum levels of CCL7 and CEA are useful prognostic biomarkers for mCRC.