serum levels of fatty acid binding protein 5 decreased in squamous cell lung carcinoma

background: the aberrant expression of dickkopf-1 (dkk1), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and fatty acid binding-protein 5 (fabp5) in lung cancer tissues and their presence in secretome of lung cancer cell lines were reported. here, serum levels of these molecules in lung cancer patients were compared to those in a healthy control group. materials and methods: the patients’ group consisted of 50 newly diagnosed male patients with a mean age of 65.3±11.5 years (27 squamous cell carcinoma (scc), 7 adenocarcinoma, and 16 small cell carcinoma). thirty eight apparently healthy men (mean aged 65.1±11.4) served as the control group. elisa was employed for quantification. results: comparison between patients and controls revealed no significant difference, although fabp5 level was lower in patients (3.2 vs. 4.8; p=0.09). analysis of each type of lung cancer with controls indicated that patients with scc had significantly lower levels of fabp5 than in controls (2.7 vs. 4.8 ng/ml; p=0.03). conclusion: comparison between patients and controls revealed no significant difference, although fabp5 level was lower in patients (3.2 vs. 4.8; p=0.09). analysis of each type of lung cancer with controls indicated that patients with scc had significantly lower levels of fabp5 than in controls (2.7 vs. 4.8 ng/ml; p=0.03). [gmj. 2014;3(4):222-7]