Assessment of a fragment of e-cadherin as a serum biomarker with predictive value for prostate cancer

2005

E-cadherin Fragment as a Prostate Cancer Biomarker

Sample size: 130 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kuefer R, Hofer M D, Zorn C S M, Engel O, Volkmer B G, Juarez-Brito M A, Eggel M, Gschwend J E, Rubin M A, Day M L

Primary Institution: University of Ulm

Can an 80 kDa fragment of e-cadherin serve as a serum biomarker for predicting outcomes in prostate cancer?

The 80 kDa e-cadherin fragment in serum is associated with a significantly increased risk of biochemical failure in prostate cancer patients.

Patients with an 80 kDa level of >7.9 μg l−1 have a 55-fold higher risk of biochemical failure after surgery.
Significant differences in e-cadherin fragment levels were found between healthy individuals and prostate cancer patients.

Doctors can use a special protein in the blood to help predict if prostate cancer will come back after treatment.

Serum samples were collected from patients and analyzed for the 80 kDa e-cadherin fragment using a specific antibody.

The study had a low number of events (n=21) which may limit the findings.

Included healthy volunteers, patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, localized prostate cancer, and metastatic prostate cancer.

p<0.001

95% CI 5.59–6.96 for healthy volunteers; 95% CI 6.82–7.70 for BPH; 95% CI 8.63–10.29 for Loc PCA; 95% CI 17.23–37.75 for Met PCA.

p<0.001

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