Clinical significance of serum expression of GROβ in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: To determine the association between serum levels of growth-related gene product β (GROβ) and clinical parameters in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum GROβ levels were measured in ESCC patients (n = 72) and healthy volunteers (n = 83). The association between serum levels of GROβ and clinical parameters of ESCC was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The serum GROβ levels were much higher in ESCC patients than in healthy controls (median: 645 ng/L vs 269 ng/L, P < 0.05). Serum GROβ levels were correlated positively with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, but not with gender or the histological grade of tumors in ESCC patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay for serum GROβ were 73.61% and 56.63%, respectively. CONCLUSION: GROβ may function as an oncogene product and contribute to tumorigenesis and metastasis of ESCC.