Galectin-13 and Integrin: Novel Markers for Assessment the Efficiency of Chemotherapy in Suppressing Solid Tumors

Abstract

Background: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, posing a significant challenge to healthcare systems and medical research. Broadly speaking, tumors can be classified into two main categories: solid tumors and hematologic (liquid) malignancies. While hematologic cancers-such as leukemia and lymphoma-primarily affect the blood and bone marrow, solid tumors are characterized by the abnormal growth of tissue in the form of a mass or lump within a specific organ or body site. Solid tumors encompass a wide range of cancers, including those of the breast, lung, prostate, colon, liver, brain, and many others. These malignancies account for a substantial portion of global cancer cases and deaths, highlighting the urgent need for continued research, early detection, and effective treatment strategies. Patients and Healthy Control a total of 60 individuals were enrolled in the current study, divided into two main groups: The first group (patients): included 30 patients diagnosed with various types of solid malignant tumors, ranging in age from 27 to 77 years. The second group (healthy controls): included 30 healthy individuals, serving as a control group, ranging in age from 26 to 66 years. Kits and technique: Sandwich-ELISA technique was applied to determine the level ofGalectin-13and  Integrinin the serum samples of the study individuals. Results:the results showed a significant decrease in Galectin-13 levels in the study patients both before (p=0.022) and after receiving treatment (p=0.050) compared to the control group,On the other hand, the results of the current study indicate no significant changes (p=0.707) in Galectin-13 levels in solid tumor patients before receiving chemotherapy and after completing the doses specified by the specialists.Statistical analysis using an ANOVA test revealed a significant increase in Integrin levels in samples from patients with solid tumors before treatment compared to healthy individuals (p=0.012), while the results indicated that levels of this protein did not decrease significantly after chemotherapy (p=0.389). The study indicated that Integrin levels in patients with solid cancers after chemotherapy declined to levels close to those recorded in the healthy group, with no statistical differences recorded when comparing these two groups (p=0.090),The study showed that the highest sensitivity(97%) Galectin-13 and Integrin. The results showed that the combined sensitivity reached its maximum (100%) Galectin-13 and Integrin , while the highest specificity (91%) was recorded for integrins. Conclusions: Galectin-13 and Integrin are excellent tools for diagnosing malignant solid tumors. Integrin are an effective follow-up function for cancerous tumor detection.