The heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression-free survival
Abstract Purpose Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients may exhibit tumor marker expression patterns that do not align with their pathological subtype, yet the clinical significance of these mismatches remains unclear. This study aims to identify novel tumor marker expression patterns and explo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Discover Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02969-3 |
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| author | Siqi Li Zihang Zeng Zixi Hong Jiali Li Conghua Xie |
| author_facet | Siqi Li Zihang Zeng Zixi Hong Jiali Li Conghua Xie |
| author_sort | Siqi Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients may exhibit tumor marker expression patterns that do not align with their pathological subtype, yet the clinical significance of these mismatches remains unclear. This study aims to identify novel tumor marker expression patterns and explore their relationship with tumor heterogeneity and progression-free survival (PFS) in NSCLC patients. Methods Clinical data and serum tumor marker values were collected from 142 patients with stage III–V, unresectable NSCLC in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. The Self-organizing map algorithm was used to generate novel tumor marker patterns. We analyzed the association of these patterns with clinicopathological features and prognosis. The in vitro experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of CA125 on the malignant behavior of squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Results We identified a pattern of low expression of SCC and high expression of CA125 in squamous cell carcinoma patients (HR 2.1704, P = 0.0304), as well as low expression of CEA and high expression of SCC in adenocarcinoma patients (HR 2.3771, P = 0.0235). Both patterns were significant predictors of poor prognosis. Furthermore, squamous cell carcinoma cell lines cultured in a high-CA125 environment exhibited accelerated proliferation in vitro. Conclusion NSCLC patients with a pattern of tumor markers mismatched to their pathological type had unfavourable PFS, suggesting a potentially higher degree of tumor heterogeneity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d8b2abd814a242a19562ec8d6e9d8ab2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2730-6011 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d8b2abd814a242a19562ec8d6e9d8ab22025-08-20T04:03:03ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-06-0116111510.1007/s12672-025-02969-3The heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression-free survivalSiqi Li0Zihang Zeng1Zixi Hong2Jiali Li3Conghua Xie4Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityHubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityHubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityHubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityAbstract Purpose Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients may exhibit tumor marker expression patterns that do not align with their pathological subtype, yet the clinical significance of these mismatches remains unclear. This study aims to identify novel tumor marker expression patterns and explore their relationship with tumor heterogeneity and progression-free survival (PFS) in NSCLC patients. Methods Clinical data and serum tumor marker values were collected from 142 patients with stage III–V, unresectable NSCLC in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. The Self-organizing map algorithm was used to generate novel tumor marker patterns. We analyzed the association of these patterns with clinicopathological features and prognosis. The in vitro experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of CA125 on the malignant behavior of squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Results We identified a pattern of low expression of SCC and high expression of CA125 in squamous cell carcinoma patients (HR 2.1704, P = 0.0304), as well as low expression of CEA and high expression of SCC in adenocarcinoma patients (HR 2.3771, P = 0.0235). Both patterns were significant predictors of poor prognosis. Furthermore, squamous cell carcinoma cell lines cultured in a high-CA125 environment exhibited accelerated proliferation in vitro. Conclusion NSCLC patients with a pattern of tumor markers mismatched to their pathological type had unfavourable PFS, suggesting a potentially higher degree of tumor heterogeneity.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02969-3Non-small cell lung cancerTumor biomarkerSelf-organizing mapPrognosisUnresectablePFS |
| spellingShingle | Siqi Li Zihang Zeng Zixi Hong Jiali Li Conghua Xie The heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression-free survival Discover Oncology Non-small cell lung cancer Tumor biomarker Self-organizing map Prognosis Unresectable PFS |
| title | The heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression-free survival |
| title_full | The heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression-free survival |
| title_fullStr | The heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression-free survival |
| title_full_unstemmed | The heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression-free survival |
| title_short | The heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression-free survival |
| title_sort | heterogeneous expression patterns of serum tumor markers in non small cell lung cancer patients are predictive factors for progression free survival |
| topic | Non-small cell lung cancer Tumor biomarker Self-organizing map Prognosis Unresectable PFS |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02969-3 |
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