Progastrin-Releasing Peptide: Stability in Plasma/Serum and Upper Reference Limit

Background: Progastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP) is a promising tumor marker for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Here we study the stability of proGRP in serum and plasma, as well as proGRP levels in healthy individuals, to provide a framework for clinical studies. Methods: Serum, with and without p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tumor biology 2008-01, Vol.29 (3), p.204-210
Main Authors: Nordlund, Marianne S., Bjerner, Johan, Warren, David J., Nustad, Kjell, Paus, Elisabeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - blood
Biomarkers, Tumor - blood
Blood Specimen Collection - methods
Body Mass Index
Carcinoma, Small Cell - blood
Case-Control Studies
Creatinine - blood
Female
Humans
Lung Neoplasms - blood
Male
Middle Aged
Peptide Fragments - analysis
Peptide Fragments - blood
Plasma - chemistry
Protease Inhibitors
Recombinant Proteins - analysis
Recombinant Proteins - blood
Reference Values
Research Article
Smoking - blood
Temperature
Time Factors
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Summary:Background: Progastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP) is a promising tumor marker for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Here we study the stability of proGRP in serum and plasma, as well as proGRP levels in healthy individuals, to provide a framework for clinical studies. Methods: Serum, with and without protease inhibitors, and plasma from SCLC patients and healthy individuals were assayed for proGRP immediately after collection and following various storage conditions. Results: No degradation was observed in serum or plasma after storage for 4 weeks at –30°C. Serum proGRP levels were stable for up to 3 days at 4°C, but decreased at room temperature. Addition of protease inhibitors to patient serum did not markedly improve stability. In EDTA plasma, proGRP concentrations increased upon storage in some samples at room temperature and 4°C. When assayed immediately after collection, no significant variations in proGRP concentrations were observed between serum and EDTA plasma (n = 171). A 97.5-percentile reference limit of 58.9 ng/l was calculated from data from 806 individuals. However, proGRP levels were significantly correlated with age, sex, creatinine concentrations, body mass index and smoking. Conclusion: Serum is the preferred material for measuring proGRP, provided it is stored at 4°C and assayed within 3 days.
ISSN:1010-4283
1423-0380
DOI:10.1159/000148188