Differential proteome profiling of pleural effusions from lung cancer and benign inflammatory disease patients

► Differential 2-D DIGE analysis of malignant and benign inflammatory pleural effusions. ► Sixteen differentially expressed proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. ► Five proteins were validated and analyzed in effusions, sera, tissues or cancer cells. ► Hemopexin, fibrinogen gamma and TTR were up-regulated in cancer samples. ► SAP and JMJD5 were down-regulated in cancer samples.