The Identification of Cytochrome B5 Reductase 2 and Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase 1 Proteins in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Proteomics Approach

 Lung cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide, with more than a million deaths a year. Despite advanced surgical techniques and combined therapies, lung cancer is still a disease with poor prognosis. According to available reports, the number of patients with lung cancer among Iranian men and women is increasing. In a study, 4,361 deaths from lung cancer have been recorded in Iran, which are 9.80% and 6.07% of all cancer deaths among men and women, respectively.

 This study aimed at investigating the proteomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and comparing them with those of the healthy individuals to detect protein markers for the diagnosis of the disease in the early stages.

 According to the sample size estimation, the tissue samples of 30 patients with NSCLC were compared with 30 healthy tissues. Proteomics and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods were used. First, the tissue samples were collected under sterile conditions and then protein was extracted. Next, 2-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were performed. Finally, with proteomic analysis in patients and healthy individuals, differences in the proteomic pattern of healthy and cancerous tissue were examined.

 More than 40 differences were revealed in the proteomics pattern of the healthy and cancerous tissues, and 2 different spots were submitted for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/ MS). Then cytochrome b5 reductase 2 (CYB5R2) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate1 were detected. It has been shown that these proteins down-regulated in cancer tissue compared to healthy tissue. It was also shown molecularly that the expression of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and cytochrome b5 reductase 2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the cancerous tissue was 0.8 and 0.64 times less than their expression in healthy tissues, respectively.

 The result of this study, which deals with tumor markers of NSCLC, can be considered as a screening diagnostic test for diagnosis of the disease in the early stages. This research could provide the basis for further research to identify the critical effects of these 2 molecules cytochrome b5 reductase 2 and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate on tissue carcinogenesis. It is recommended to do more thorough research.