Serum TUBB is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer

Aim: To identify serum biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and assess their potential for early diagnosis. Experimental: MB-WCX coupled with MALDI-TOF MS was utilized to profile serum samples from 64 NSCLC patients and 64 healthy subjects, followed by ClinProTools software and Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-ESI-MS/MS) for recognition and characterization of differentially expressed peaks. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed protein concentrations, while The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was leveraged for validation of candidate biomarkers in a larger cohort. Results: 39 distinct proteomic m/z peaks were identified for NSCLC subjects, with five of these peaks significantly distinguishing NSCLC from healthy controls (HC). A model developed using the GA (Genetic Algorithm) with ClinProt data demonstrated a sensitivity of 84.72% and a specificity of 88.68% in identifying NSCLC patients. Peaks 2 through 5 were observed to be downregulated in the NSCLC group. Notably, a peptide peak, Peak 1, with an m/z value of 1,866, identified as a fragment of TUBB, was upregulated in NSCLC. ELISA validated the increased serum TUBB levels in NSCLC patients (P < 0.001). Furthermore, analysis of TUBB expression in lung cancer tissues through TCGA data revealed elevated TUBB expression in lung cancer tissues. Conclusions: Serum TUBB is identified as a potential diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC, which may benefit early diagnosis and enhance the survival rate of NSCLC patients.