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Clinical Science (2010) 118, (717–725) (Printed in Great Britain)

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Increased plasma concentrations of anterior gradient 2 protein are positively associated with ovarian cancer

Tracey A. Edgell^*, Dong L. Barraclough^†‡, Antonio Rajic^*, Janu Dhulia^*, Kate J. Lewis^*, Jane E. Armes^§, Roger Barraclough^§, Philip S. Rudland^§, Gregory E. Rice^*∥ and Dominic J. Autelitano^*

*HealthLinx Ltd, 576 Swan Street, Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia, †School of Clinical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, U.K., ‡School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, U.K., §Mater Pathology, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia, and ∥Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3134, Australia

Key words: anterior gradient protein 2 (AGR2), biomarker, CA125, ELISA, ovarian cancer.

Abbreviations: AGR2, anterior gradient protein 2; AUC, area under the curve; ESI, electrospray ionization; HRP, horseradish peroxidase; MAb, monoclonal antibody; MALDI, matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization; PAb, polyclonal antibody; rhAGR2, recombinant human AGR2; MS/MS, tandem MS; ROC, receiver operator characteristic; TBS, Tris-buffered saline; TFA, trifluoroacetic acid; TOF, time-of-flight.

Correspondence: Dr Dominic J. Autelitano (email d.autelitano@healthlinx.com.au).

Ovarian cancer is often asymptomatic and is diagnosed at an advanced stage with poor survival rates, thus there is an urgent need to develop biomarkers for earlier detection of ovarian cancer. In the present study, we demonstrate for the first time that the previously reported metastasis-inducing protein AGR2 (anterior gradient protein 2) can be detected in the blood of ovarian cancer patients. Using a newly developed ELISA, we show significantly increased concentrations of AGR2 protein in plasma from cancer patients relative to normal controls. Plasma AGR2 concentrations were highest in stages II and III ovarian cancer patients and were similarly elevated in patients with both serous and non-serous tumours. The identification of elevated plasma concentrations of AGR2 may provide a useful biomarker to aid in the discrimination of normal and ovarian cancer patients particularly when used in combination with CA125.

Received 21 October 2009/2 February 2010; accepted 5 February 2010

Published as Immediate Publication 5 February 2010, doi:10.1042/CS20090537

© The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Biochemical Society