Scientists from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against lung cancer, identifying potential protein biomarkers that could aid in early diagnosis. The research was supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).
Lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer globally, causing nearly 2 million deaths each year, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In the Philippines alone, it claimed over 20,500 lives in 2022 — the highest among all types of cancer.
Led by Dr. Baby Rorielyn Dimayacyac-Esleta, the UP Diliman team analyzed protein levels from tumor and nearby healthy tissue samples of Filipino patients with early-stage non-small cell lung carcinoma lung adenocarcinoma (NSCLC LUAD), the most common form of lung cancer. Their work identified 4,403 proteins showing abnormal expression in tumors, many of which are associated with key biological functions like protein translation and metabolism. Disruptions in these processes may accelerate cancer progression.
Moreover, the study detected 33 proteins in both tissue and blood plasma that could serve as potential diagnostic markers. “These proteins have aberrant expression at both the gene and protein levels, and their gene expression is associated with poorer five-year survival rates for NSCLC patients,” Dimayacyac-Esleta explained. She noted that testing these proteins could enhance current diagnostic tools, such as chest X-rays and low-dose CT scans, by improving the accuracy and sensitivity of lung cancer detection.
The research, titled “Discovery of Key Candidate Protein Biomarkers in Early-Stage Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma through Quantitative Proteomics,” was recently published in the Journal of Proteome Research. The team, which also includes experts from UP Diliman’s Institute of Chemistry, the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, and the Lung Center of the Philippines, continues to pursue clinical applications for these promising biomarkers.
