Proteomics analysis of serum protein profiling in pancreatic cancer patients by DIGE: up-regulation of mannose-binding lectin

Background Pancreatic cancer has significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Good prognosis relies on an early diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to develop techniques for identifying cancer biomarkers in the serum of patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods Serum samples from five individuals with pancreatic cancer and five individuals without cancer were compared. High-amount serum proteins were depleted by the immuno-affinity column. Differential protein analysis was performed using 2-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Results Among these protein spots, we found that 16 protein spots were differently expressed between the two mixtures; 8 of these were up-regulated and 8 were down-regulated in cancer. Mass spectrometry and database searching allowed the identification of the proteins corresponding to the gel spots. Up-regulation of mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2, which have not previously been implicated in pancreatic cancer, were observed. In an independent series of serum samples from 16 patients with pancreatic cancer and 16 controls, increased levels of mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2 were confirmed by western blot. Conclusions These results suggest that affinity column enrichment and DIGE can be used to identify numerous proteins differentially expressed in serum from pancreatic cancer patients. These two proteins “mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2” might be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of the pancreatic cancer.