Quantitative proteomic analysis exploring progression of colorectal cancer: Modulation of the serpin family.

Résumé

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major cause of cancer related-death in developed countries. The mortality risk is correlated with the stage of CRC determined at the primary diagnosis and early diagnosis is associated with enhanced survival rate. Currently, only faecal occult blood tests are used to screen for CRC. Consequently, there is an incentive to identify specific markers of CRC. We used quantitative proteomic analysis of serum samples to characterize protein profiles in adenoma, CRC and healthy control samples. We identified 89 distinct proteins modulated between normal, colorectal adenoma and carcinoma patients. This list emphasizes proteins involved in enzyme regulator activities and in particular the serpin family. In serum samples, protein profiles of three members of the serpin family (SERPINA1, SERPINA3 and SERPINC1) were confirmed by ELISA assays. We obtained sensitivity/specificity values of 95%/95% for both SERPINA1 and SERPINC1, and 95%/55% for SERPINA3. This study supports the idea that serum proteins can discriminate adenoma and CRC patients from unaffected patients and reveals a panel of regulated proteins that might be useful for selecting patients for colonoscopy. By evaluating SERPINA1, SERPINA3 and SERPINC1, we highlight the potential role of the serpin family during the development and progression of CRC.