Quantification of Rac1 and Rac1b in serum of non small cell lung cancer by label free real time assay.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rac proteins play a major role in tumorogenesis. We quantified Rac1 and Rac1b in serum of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHODS: The blood of 77 NSCLC patients and 52 healthy controls were collected and quantified the concentration of Rac1 and Rac1b mainly by surface plasmon resonance and it was verify by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Rac1 and Rac1b were found to be significantly over expressed in serum of NSCLC patients compare to healthy controls. The level of Rac proteins were found to be increased in all stages of cancer. Despite the low survival rate, we managed to collect serum sample of the 18 follow up patients after the therapy, where 11 patients' of CR+PR group showed down regulation of the Rac protein after chemotherapy and unfortunately 80% patients died during the study period. CONCLUSION: The high specificity and sensitivity obtained from ROC analysis for Rac1 and Rac1b envisaged it to be used as a serum diagnostic marker in the early stage of cancer.