A new assay to screen for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using the tumor marker metallopanstimulin

Wha Joon Lee, K. Keefer, C. S. Hollenbeak, B. C. Stack

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To date, no serologic marker has proven effective as a diagnostic test for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Levels of metallopanstimulin (MPS), as measured by a difficult to reproduce radioimmunoassay, are significantly elevated in untreated HNSCC patients. Our objective was to develop a simpler MPS assay. Methods Serum was obtained from HNSCC patients through Institutional Review Board approved protocols at the Penn State University College of Medicine and healthy volunteers donating blood at the hospital blood bank from 2000 to present. Serum MPS was immunoprecipitated, slot blotted, and Western blotted. MPS levels were quantified by densitometry. Results Forty-eight blood donors and 45 known HNSCC patients were studied. The MPS level was 14 ng/mL ± 1 (SEM) for blood donors and 36 ng/mL ± 3 (SEM) for known HNSCC patients. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Conclusion Slot blot analysis of MPS is a safe, effective, and reproducible assay that may be used to screen for HNSCC in high-risk populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)466-471
Number of pages6
JournalOtolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Volume131
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery
  • Otorhinolaryngology

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