The pregnancy associated protein glycodelin as a follow-up biomarker in a male non-small cell lung cancer patient

•Glycodelin is expressed in the tumor of a male NSCLC patient.•Glycodelin secreted by NSCLC tumors can be detected in the serum of the patient.•The glycodelin serum concentration correlates with the clinical follow up.

ObjectivesGlycodelin is an immunomodulatory protein with high impact during the establishment of pregnancy and implantation of the trophoblast. In recent years, studies have demonstrated that glycodelin is expressed in different tumor entities. Here we show a case report of a male NSCLC patient with a high glycodelin gene (PAEP) and protein expression in the tumor and the serum.Materials and methodsThe qPCR data, immunohistochemical stainings of glycodelin in the primary tumor and the metastasis as well as the measurements of glycodelin in the serum were connected and analyzed with the clinical and pathological data of the patient.ResultsCT scans of the patient revealed temporarily unclear infiltrations of the lung. The primary tumor of this patient highly expressed the glycodelin gene product (PAEP) as well as the glycodelin protein. Moreover, glycodelin was secreted into the blood and the concentration correlated with the patient's follow-up.ConclusionsWith this case report of a male patient we demonstrate that the pregnancy associated protein glycodelin might be a useful biomarker to monitor disease progression in NSCLC patients.