Intracellular diacylglycerol: a mitogenic second messenger proposable as marker of transformation in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

• Published in: Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 161 - 170
• Main Authors: Casamassima, Franco, Pacini, Stefania, Dragotto, Alberto, Anichini, Mario, Chiarugi, Vincenzo, Ruggiero, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-09-1996; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Diacylglycerol; Diglycerides - metabolism; Female; Humans; Intracellular Fluid - metabolism; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - metabolism; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Marker; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pneumology; Second messenger; Second Messenger Systems - physiology; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Marker; Lung cancer; Diacylglycerol; Second messenger; Human; Lung disease; Squamous cell carcinoma; Respiratory disease; Diglyceride; Biological marker; Bronchus disease; Exploration; Intracellular; Malignant tumor; Bronchopulmonary
• ISSN: 0169-5002; 1872-8332
• DOI: 10.1016/0169-5002(96)00579-X

In this study, we examined 50 patients with documented lung cancer projecting in the bronchial lumen unilaterally. Bronchial lavage from the affected and unaffected sides provided neoplastic and normal cells in which we studied an intracellular mitogenic second messenger, diacylglycerol, associated with transformation. The levels of diacylglycerol in cells from the affected side were compared with that from the healthy side, thus providing an internal control for each patient. Our data show that the levels of diacylglycerol in lavage fluid relative to affected bronchus are elevated in 56% of all the patients examined. This elevation reaches 77% in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, a value of sensitivity higher than ‘traditional’ markers for cancer of the lung. Thus, these findings may have significant implications for the use of diacylglycerol measurement as a novel biomarker for early detection of lung cancer, and for monitoring recurrences after treatment.