An MRM assay for HAPLN1 - a protein with potential as a prognostic marker for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)

摘要

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a lethal cancer with a short median survival time and high resistance to all types of conventional treatment. The major risk factor by far is exposure to asbestos. Developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools requires identification of novel early detection markers for MPM and understanding their significance for tumor initiation and growth. We have identified and validated both on RNA and protein levels by Western blotting that hyaluronan- and proteoglycan-linked protein 1 (HAPLN1) is overexpressed in MPM compared to lung cancer. HAPLN1 may serve as a prognostic marker because its expression at higher levels in MPM patients is associated with a poor prognosis. Developing an ELISA assay for this protein has proven very difficult due to nonspecificity of antibodies, and we have therefore turned to developing an MRM assay to verify the clinical potential of this biomarker.