Evaluation of EGF, EGFR, and E-cadherin as potential biomarkers for gastrointestinal cancers

Biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of cancers are still unsatisfactory in clinical management. The seeking of new biomarkers with better performance is still a challenge. EGF, EGFR, and E-cad are soluble biomarkers with clinical potential. ELISA was used to analyze serum EGF, EGFR, and E-cad from 58 gastrointestinal cancer patients and 20 control subjects. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze Ki-67 expression in tumors. The results were correlated with clinical features. This study found that the preoperative and postoperative serum EGF and EGFR levels were significantly higher than in controls. The preoperative EGF and E-cad levels were significantly higher than postoperative levels. There was no correlation between EGF, EGFR, and E-cad levels and serum CEA or tumor Ki-67 scores. The serum EGF level was significantly higher in high TNM stage, with lymph node involvement patients than in low TNM stage, no lymph node involvement patients. Serum EGF and EGFR are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and screening of gastrointestinal cancers. Inter-combination analysis of three biomarkers has improved the performance of the assays.