Assessment of transthyretin and key biomarkers for lung cancer diagnosis

Lung cancer (LC), including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with poor prognosis in advanced stages. Early detection through reliable biomarkers is essential for improving survival rates. Transthyretin (TTR), a transport protein for thyroid hormones, has been suggested as a potential diagnostic marker, but its clinical utility in LC remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of serum Transthyretin in combination with thyroid hormones and other biochemical markers in lung cancer patients, and to determine which parameters provide the highest sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis. A case-control study was performed on patients with lung cancer and healthy individuals. Serum levels of TTR, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), high density lipoprotein (HDL), albumin (Alb), total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), and cholesterol (Chol) were evaluated using standard laboratory procedures, and the data were statistically analyzed to determine their diagnostic relevance. LC patients showed significantly lower transthyretin, triiodothyronine, thyroid stimulating hormone, albumin, and total protein levels, and higher thyroxine, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels compared to controls (p < 0.05). Transthyretin and thyroxine demonstrated the strongest diagnostic performance, with AUC values of 0.831 and 0.922, respectively; T4 achieved 100% specificity. TTR correlated positively with Alb, high density lipoprotein, body mass index (BMI), and TSH, and inversely with T4 and age. Transthyretin and thyroxine are promising biomarkers for distinguishing LC patients from healthy individuals. Incorporating these markers into diagnostic panels may enhance early detection and improve clinical outcomes. Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger, diverse populations.