Proteomic Profiling of Endometrial Cancer Tissues Reveals Differential Expression of Proteomes in Obese Versus Non-Obese Patients.
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the leading gynecological malignancy worldwide. Obesity is reported to be associated with 50% of EC cases. Significant gaps remain in investigating specific molecular mechanisms behind the obesity-driven EC. Women diagnosed with EC undergoing total hysterectomy were recruited. Patients were divided into two groups: EC-obese with BMI > 29.9 kg/m2 (n = 10) and EC-Non-obese with BMI ≤ 29.9 kg/m2 (n = 10). Tumor tissues were subjected to label-free quantitative proteomic analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Differentially expressed proteins were identified and subjected to pathway enrichment and network analyses to characterize obesity-associated alterations. Proteomic profiling showed a significant dysregulation of 456 proteins: 171 upregulated and 285 downregulated. Proteins involved in endoplasmic reticulum quality control particularly endoplasmic reticulum lectin 1 (ERLEC1), were reduced. Conversely, EC-obese demonstrated upregulation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), integrin-linked kinase (ILK), CTTNBP2 N-terminal-like protein (CTTNBP2NL), and lysyl oxidase homolog 1 (LOXL1), implicating activation of inflammatory pathways. Bioinformatic analysis showed downregulation of immune-related pathways, including neutrophil degranulation, complement activation in the EC-obese group. ROC analysis identified apolipoprotein(a), phospholipase B-like 1, CTTNBP2NL, and ILK as significant proteins that can differentiate between the obese and non-obese states. Our findings provide insights into obesity-associated proteomic changes in EC and highlight candidate proteins that can be used for molecular stratification after further validation.
Authors
Akkour Akkour, Rafiullah Rafiullah, Alfadda Alfadda, Alanazi Alanazi, Masood Masood, Joy Joy, Al-Eidan Al-Eidan, Alshehri Alshehri, Bassi Bassi, Alhalal Alhalal, AlQarni AlQarni, Gul Gul, Benabdelkamel Benabdelkamel
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