Affiliations: [a] Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China | [b] Laboratory Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China | [c] Yancheng Central Blood Station, Yancheng 224000, Jiangsu, China | [d] Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Shaoqing Ju, Laboratory Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, #20 Xisi Road, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China. Tel.: +86 0513 85052335; Fax: +86 0513 85052335; E-mail:jsq814@hotmail.com
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore serum PCAT-1
expression in multiple myeloma (MM) and examine the potential usefulness of
this molecule as a biomarker for diagnosis in MM. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 60 newly diagnosed
untreated MM patients, and 48 healthy controls. Serum PCAT-1 expression
levels were detected by RT-qPCR. In addition, correlations between the
relative expression of serum PCAT-1 and the concentrations of lactic acid
dehydrogenase (LDH), β2M, λ light chain and κ
light chain were assessed. RESULTS: It was found that the relative expression of serum PCAT-1
in MM patients (81.02 ± 136.9) was higher than that in healthy controls
(3.17 ± 5.75) (U= 307.0, P< 0.0001) and was significantly correlated with
β2M concentration (r= 0.461, P= 0.0002), but not with LDH,
κ light and λ light chain concentration (r= 0.061,
P= 0.641; r= 0.007, P= 0.956; r=-0.090, P= 0.499 respectively).
Additionally, it was significantly correlated with different isotype of MM
(H= 7.464, P= 0.024). The AUC of the ROC curve of serum PCAT-1 was 0.892
(95% CI 0.833-0.950), which was higher than other markers. Combining
PCAT-1 and β2M together, the sensitivity was highest compared
with other markers alone, or combined. CONCLUSION: The expression levels of serum PCAT-1 in MM patients
were significantly higher than that in healthy controls, suggesting that it
may be useful in the auxiliary diagnosis of MM.
