Blood-based protein biomarkers and red blood cell aggregation in pancreatic cancer

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wiewiora, Maciej^{a; *} | Jopek, Janusz^b | Świętochowska, Elżbieta^c | Sławomir, Gregorczyn^d | Piecuch Jr., Jerzy^b | Gąska, Mateusz^a | Piecuch, Jerzy^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Cardiac Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Transplantology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland | [b] Department of General and Bariatric Surgery and Emergency Medicine in Zabrze, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland | [c] Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland | [d] Chair and Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Maciej Wiewiora, ul. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland. Tel.: +48 32 3732381; Fax: + 48 32 2716335;E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly malignant with a low 5-year survival rate. Blood biomarkers may be of value for the noninvasive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. OBJECTIVE:This study assessed blood-based biomarkers and disturbances in red blood cell aggregation associated with pancreatic cancer. METHODS:We studied 61 patients who underwent pancreatic resection. Of these 61 patients, 46 patients had PDAC, and 15 patients had inflammatory tumours. Serum VEGF, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), elastin-derived peptides (EDPs), total sialic acid (TSA) and resistin levels were measured. Red blood cell aggregation was assessed by a laser-assisted optical rotational cell analyser. RESULTS:VEGF (p < 0.000001), HIF-1α (p = 0.000002), resistin (p = 0.000349), EDP (p = 0.000089) and TSA (p = 0.000013) levels were significantly higher in the PDAC group than in the inflammatory tumour group. The aggregation index (AI), syllectogram amplitude (AMP) and threshold shear rate (γthr) were significantly higher in the PDAC group, whereas the aggregation half-time (t1/2) was lower than in the inflammatory tumour group. Multivariate analyses revealed that VEGF, TSA and EDP levels were variables that predicted PDAC. VEGF levels were the most powerful predictor of PDAC independent of CA 19-9 levels. The cut-off points for VEGF, TSA and EDP levels were 134.56 pg/ml, 109.11 mg/dl and 36.4 ng/ml, respectively, with sensitivities of 97.8%, 87% and 69.6%, respectively, and specificities of 86.7%, 86.7% and 93.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION:This study indicated that there are significant differences in blood-based biomarkers for differentiating between PDAC and inflammatory tumours of the pancreas. We also confirmed that PDAC is associated with the excessive aggregation of RBCs.

Keywords: Pancreatic cancer, biomarker, diagnosis, red blood cell aggregation

DOI: 10.3233/CH-231814

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 85, no. 4, pp. 371-383, 2023