Combined detection of serum UL16‑binding protein 2 and macrophage inhibitory cytokine‑1 improves early diagnosis and prognostic prediction of pancreatic cancer

Zhou,Yu‑Fen; Xu,Ling‑Xiao; Huang,Li‑Ya; Guo,Fang; Zhang,Fan; He,Xiang‑Yi; Yuan,Yao‑Zong; Yao,Wei‑Yan

doi:10.3892/ol.2014.2429

Combined detection of serum UL16‑binding protein 2 and macrophage inhibitory cytokine‑1 improves early diagnosis and prognostic prediction of pancreatic cancer

Authors:
- Yu‑Fen Zhou
- Ling‑Xiao Xu
- Li‑Ya Huang
- Fang Guo
- Fan Zhang
- Xiang‑Yi He
- Yao‑Zong Yuan
- Wei‑Yan Yao
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Affiliations: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China, Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, P.R. China
Published online on: August 8, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2429
Pages: 2096-2102

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Abstract

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer‑related mortality in the United States. There is no effective serum biomarker for the early diagnosis of PC at present. Although serum UL16‑binding protein 2 (ULBP2) and macrophage inhibitory cytokine‑1 (MIC‑1) levels are reported to be elevated in PC patients, the diagnostic and prognostic value of ULBP2 and MIC‑1 alone or in combination remains unknown. The aim of the present case‑control study was to compare the diagnostic value of ULBP2, MIC‑1 and carbohydrate antigen 19‑9 (CA19‑9) in 359 serum samples, consisting of 152 cases of PC, 20 cases of pre‑pancreatic cancer, 91 cases of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and 96 normal controls (NC). All patients were followed up for a median of 2 years. It was found that the serum levels of ULBP2, MIC‑1 and CA19‑9 were significantly higher in the PC patients compared with those in the NC group. In distinguishing PC from the CP, the highest sensitivity and specificity were ULBP2 (0.878) and CA19‑9 (0.816), respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ULBP2 was 0.923, which was the highest of the three biomarkers. MIC‑1 was the optimal choice for the diagnosis of early‑stage PC (area under the curve, 0.831). Overall, MIC‑1 in combination with ULBP2 improved the diagnostic accuracy in differentiating PC from CP and NC. In addition, a higher level of MIC‑1 was correlated with a poorer prognosis, as calculated by the Kaplan‑Meier test (P=0.039). Patients with serum MIC‑1 levels of ≥1,932 ng/ml had a median survival time of 15.62±2.44 months (mean ± standard deviation) vs. 18.66±2.43 months in patients with a lower level of MIC‑1. Overall, combined detection of serum MIC‑1 and ULBP2 improved the diagnostic accuracy in differentiating PC from CP and NC, and serum MIC‑1 level alone was a predictor of survival in the patients with PC.

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