ProGRP is a possible tumor marker for patients with Ewing sarcoma

Biomed Res. 2015;36(4):273-7. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.36.273.

Abstract

We analyzed serum ProGRP levels in patients with Ewing sarcoma, and found that 5 out of 9 patients had elevated levels; the values range equally with those of patients with limited disease of small-cell lung carcinoma. Serum ProGRP levels in patients with bone and soft tissue malignancies other than Ewing sarcoma are not elevated. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that ProGRP-like immunoreactivities were detected in Ewing sarcoma tissues obtained from 2 patients with elevated serum ProGRP levels, suggesting that ProGRP is a product of tumor cells of Ewing sarcoma. These results indicate that serum ProGRP could serve as a specific tumor marker for Ewing sarcoma. Since ProGRP is a major hormonal product of tumor cells of small-cell lung carcinoma, a typical neuroendocrine carcinoma, it is reasonable to postulate that the present study provides an evidence for Ewing sarcoma to possess neuroendocrine differentiation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor*
  • Bone Neoplasms / blood*
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptide Fragments / blood*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / blood*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (31-98)