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Chitinase 3-Like 1, Nestin, and Testin Proteins as Novel Biomarkers of Potential Clinical Use in Colorectal Cancer: A Review

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Health and Medicine

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((CLEXBI,volume 1279))

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second most common in females. Only 10–20% of patients are diagnosed at the early stage of disease. Recently, the role of novel biomarkers of the neoplastic process in the early detection of colorectal cancer has been widely discussed. In this review, we focused on the three novel biomarkers that are of potential clinical importance in diagnosing and monitoring colorectal cancer. Chitinase 3-like 1 protein, also known as YKL-40, and nestin and testin proteins are produced by colorectal cancer cells. YKL-40 protein is a marker of proliferation, differentiation, and tissue morphogenetic changes. The level of YKL-40 is elevated in about 20% of patients with colorectal cancer. An increased expression of nestin indicates immaturity. It is a marker of angiogenesis in neoplastic processes. Testin protein is a component of cell-cell connections and focal adhesions. The protein is produced in normal human tissues, but not in tumor tissues. Downregulation of testin increases cell motility, spread, and proliferation, and decreases apoptosis. The usefulness and role of these biomarkers, both alone and combined, in the diagnostics of colorectal cancer should be further explored as early cancer detection may substantially improve treatment outcome and patient survival.

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Acknowledgments

Funded by Wroclaw Medical University grant no. ST.E020.17.050.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in relation to this article.

Ethical Approval

This review article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

    Anna Szymańska-Chabowska

  2. Department of Clinical Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

    Jan Juzwiszyn & Mariusz Chabowski

  3. Division of Nursing in Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

    Beata Jankowska-Polańska

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Fourth Military Teaching Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland

    Wojciech Tański

  5. Department of Surgery, Fourth Military Teaching Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland

    Mariusz Chabowski

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  1. Anna Szymańska-Chabowska
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  2. Jan Juzwiszyn
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Correspondence to Mariusz Chabowski .

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  1. Opole Medical School, Warsaw, Poland

    Mieczyslaw Pokorski

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Szymańska-Chabowska, A., Juzwiszyn, J., Jankowska-Polańska, B., Tański, W., Chabowski, M. (2020). Chitinase 3-Like 1, Nestin, and Testin Proteins as Novel Biomarkers of Potential Clinical Use in Colorectal Cancer: A Review. In: Pokorski, M. (eds) Health and Medicine. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 1279. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2020_506

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