OBJECTIVETo identify the differentially expressed proteins in the serum of patients with cervical cancer for use as the biomarkers for early diagnosis of cervical cancer.

METHODSSurface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) with weak cationic chips (CM10) was used to examine the serum samples of 24 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma and 25 age-matched healthy women. The protein fingerprints were obtained, and bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed proteins in the serum of the patients.

RESULTSFifty-two differentially expressed proteins were detected in the serum of cervical cancer patients (P<10(-5)), among which 6 proteins with mass/charge ratio of 4173.77, 5903.09, 6087.12, 10716.9, 6109.61 and 3397.41, respectively, showed lowered expression in the serum of cervical cancer patients. Two diagnostic models for cervical cancer were generated using software, including one consisting of the 4173.77(M/Z) protein with the diagnostic specificity of 96% and sensitivity of 75% for cervical cancer and the other consisting of 3 proteins at 5335.81(M/Z), 7562.99(M/Z), and 9287.89(M/Z) with specificity of 91.67% and sensitivity of 96.0%.

CONCLUSIONCervical cancer patients show different serum protein expression profile from healthy women. The 6 differential proteins identified may serve as specific serum biomarkers in close relation to the origin and progression of cervical cancer.