Plexin C1: A novel screening test for lung cancer

Abstract

Background/Aim: Lung cancer, where early diagnosis is particularly important, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Unfortunately, patients with lung cancer present at advanced stages. Biomarkers are needed to detect cancer at an earlier stage. In the present study, we aimed to emphasize that Plexin C1 level can be used in the early diagnosis of patients with lung cancer. Methods: This prospective case-control study included 50 patients with lung cancer who presented between May 2020-September 2020 (25 males and 25 females) in the patient group and 40 healthy individuals (23 males and 17 females) in the control group. All patients with lung cancer underwent routine preoperative tests. Additionally, the preoperative Plexin C1 levels of all patients were measured with the ELISA method and compared between the patient and control groups, and with respect to cancer staging. Results: The median Plexin C1 levels in the patient and control groups were 9.5 ng/mL and 4.0 ng/mL, respectively (P<0.001). The patients with Stage 4 tumors had significantly higher serum Plexin C1 levels than those with Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 tumors (P<0.001). Also, Plexin C1 levels were higher in patients with greater depth of invasion (P<0.001), more lymph node involvement (P<0.001), and distant metastasis (P<0.001). Conclusion: Plexin C1 can be used as a predictive biomarker at the time of diagnosis for lung cancer, and for cancer stage discrimination to show early, advanced, or metastatic disease.

Keywords

• Lung cancer
• Plexin C1
• Biomarker
• Tumor

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