METCAM/MUC18 is a new early diagnostic biomarker for the malignant potential of prostate cancer: Validation with Western blot method, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and lateral flow immunoassay

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pong, Yuan-Hung^{a; b; 1} | Su, Yann-Rong^{c; 1} | Lo, Hsing-Wen^d | Ho, Chung-Kun^d | Hsieh, Chia-Chi^d | Chu, Ching-Tung^e | Chen-Yang, Yui Whei^f | Tsai, Vincent F.S.^{a; b} | Wu, Jui-Chuang^{d; g; *} | Wu, Guang-Jer^{e; h; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Urology, Ten Chan General Hospital, Chung-li, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [b] Department of Urology, Ten Chen General Hospital, Yang-mei, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [c] Department of Urology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin Chu, Taiwan | [d] Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [e] Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [f] Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [g] Research Center for Circular Economy, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan, Taiwan | [h] Molecular Biology of Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Guang-Jer Wu, Department of BioScience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan. E-mail: [email protected]. Jui-Chuang Wu, Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan. E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [1] Both Yuan-Hung Pong and Yann-Rong Su contributed equally as the first authors.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: METCAM/MUC18 expression was increased with the malignant progression of prostate cancer and also a bona fide metastatic gene, capable of initiating and driving the metastasis of a non-metastatic human prostate cancer cell line to multiple organs. OBJECTIVE: We explored if METCAM/MUC18 was detectable in human serum and a novel biomarker to predict malignant propensity of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two antibodies were identified by Western blot analysis having the highest sensitivity and specificity to establish calibration curves from the recombinant METCAM/MUC18 proteins. They were used in ELISA and LFIA to determine the METCAM/MUC18 concentrations in serum samples from 8 normal individuals, 4 BPH patients, 1 with PIN, 6 with high-grade prostate cancer, and 2 treated cancer patients. RESULTS: Serum METCAM/MUC18 concentrations were statistically significantly higher in the patients with PIN and prostate cancer than those with BPH, the treated patients and normal individuals. The LFIA results were statistically better than ELISA and Western blot methods. Serum METCAM/MUC18 concentrations were in direct proportional to most of serum PSA concentrations.

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-191001

Journal: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 377-387, 2020