Background/aim: To determine the differential protein profiles of cervical cancer cell lines in order to find potential targets that can be used as biomarkers in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) diagnosis.
Materials and methods: Proteomic analysis was performed on cervical cancer cell lines by 2D electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Biomarker validation was performed in histological samples by immunofluorescence.
Results: Aldo-keto reductase C1 (AKR1C1) and transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) proteins were selected as biomarkers and their expression was increased in samples with LSIL diagnosis. TKTL1 in combination with AKR1C1 increased sensitivity and specificity to 75% and 66%, respectively, with an area under curve of 0.76 in receiver operating characteristics curve analysis.
Conclusion: AKR1C1 and TKTL1 showed potential as biomarkers for diagnosis of LSIL in Mexican women, with similar sensitivity and specificity to the biomarkers used in clinical trials for diagnosis of LSIL.
Keywords: Biomarker; proteomics; sensitivity; specificity; squamous intraepithelial lesion.
Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.