p38 MAP kinases: plausible diagnostic and prognostic serum protein marker of non small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: p38 MAPK signaling molecules plays a dual role in cancer, both progression and suppression. Elevated expression of p38α was reported in lung cancer tissue in rat model. Our objective was to explore the concentration of all 4 isoforms of p38MAPK in serum of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The blood samples were collected from 77 NSCLC patients, 52 ethically matched healthy controls and 18 follow up patients were collected as some patients expired and some discontinued the treatment. The concentration of all isoforms of p38 (p38α, p38β, p38γ, and p38δ) were evaluated by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technology.

RESULT: The levels of all isoforms of serum p38 were significantly elevated at pre-therapy compare to control. Only p38α expression was significantly associated with tumor stage and its expression reduced after treatment which is then validated by western blot. However, no changes were observed in other isoforms after therapy.

CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that, p38α is more efficient among all the isoform to predict the disease accurately and it can be concluded that p38 MAPK may be used as diagnostic as well as prognostic marker of NSCLC disease.