SAA1 is over-expressed in plasma of non small cell lung cancer patients with poor outcome after treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitors

► SAA1 generates 4 out of 8 mass signals composing the predictive algorithm VeriStrat. ► SAA1, together with its two N-terminal truncated forms, is over expressed in NSCLC patients. ► SAA1 plasma levels correlate with the clinical outcome of NSCLC patients. ► SAA1 level may help clinicians to select NSCLC patients who do not respond to EGFR TKIs therapy. ► SAA1 might be related to EGFR TKIs resistance.