Investigation of Serum Folate-Receptor-1 Levels in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Objective: Histopathological overexpression of folate receptor-1 (FOLR1) involved in folate transport in cell growth has been reported in various cancers. Increased serum FOLR1(sFOLR1) has also been reported in epithelial ovarian cancer. The aim was to investigate sFOLR1 levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and the response prediction of the standard chemotherapy targeting folic acid metabolism. Method: In this prospective study, sFOLR1 levels were investigated in 30 healthy individuals and 60 patients with stage4 malign metastatic NSCLC before and after standard chemotherapy. The commercial immunoassay (ELISA) kit used for analysis of sFOLR1. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), vitamin B12, and folate levels were also investigated. Result: In NSCLC patients sFOLR1 levels were significantly higher(p