Novel serum markers HSP60, CHI3L1, and IGFBP-2 in metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading tumor diagnosis in women and men in the Czech Republic. Patient outcome depends on tumor stage at the time of diagnosis and, in metastatic disease, on the localization and extent of distant metastases. The early detection of metastatic liver disease is an important indication for liver surgery. Therefore, novel biomarkers are urgently required. Serum samples were collected from 97 patients with histologically confirmed metastatic CRC at the time of diagnosis or at the time of progression during palliative treatment, and 79 samples from healthy controls. All patients exhibited adequate liver and renal function and signed informed consent was obtained from all patients included in the current study. The serum levels of Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) and Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) were measured using immunochemistry. The serum levels of HSP60, CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2 were significantly higher in patients with CRC compared with healthy controls. When compared with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), HSP60 exhibited the same sensitivity and specificity, while CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2 exhibited decreased sensitivity. Additionally, the serum levels of HSP60 and IGFBP-2 were indicated to be correlated with the presence of liver metastases, which is in contrast to CEA and Cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). Patients with higher HSP60 and IGFBP-2 levels exhibited a significantly worse survival (P<0.001 and 0.007, respectively). The results of the current study indicate HSP60 to be an effective biomarker in patients with metastatic CRC, with it exhibiting an equal sensitivity to CEA. Additionally, HSP60 and IGFBP-2 levels also strongly correlated with extension of liver metastases and exhibited a prognostic value that contrasted that of CEA.

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men (1,006,000 cases, 10.6% of the total) and the second in women (795,000 cases, 9.2% of the total) worldwide (1). CRC is the second leading tumor diagnosis in women and in men in the Czech Republic (2). Patient outcome strongly depends on the stage of tumor at the time of diagnosis and, in metastatic disease, the prognosis depends on localization and extent of distant metastases (3). Early detection and diagnosis still present the best chance for successful treatment and improved outcome. Early detection of metastatic liver disease is important for indication of liver surgery. Therefore, novel biomarkers for early cancer detection and early detection of metastatic disease are strongly needed.

Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) belongs to a functional superfamily which is highly conserved during evolution and play important roles in protein folding and translocation (4,5). Hsp60 can be considered as a protein with moonlighting functions (6). Abnormalities in expression level have been detected from different diseased tissues including inflammatory diseases and various cancers. The HSP60 acts as an autoantigen in the development of a range of autoimmune diseases including Hashimoto's thyroiditis (7), inflammatory bowel diseases (8) and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (9). HSP60 is also implicated in the cell survival and apoptosis signaling pathways (10). An increased level of HSP60 has been detected in colon cancer (11,12), breast cancer (13), prostate (14) and others. In patients with CRC HSP60 levels have been correlated with tumor grade and stage and with occurrence of lymph node metastases (15).

A few studies have suggested that circulating Hsp60 protein level has potential value in early detection of CRC (12,16) Serum levels in patients with CRC were compared to standard serum tumor markers by Hamelin et al (16), but the majority of studied patients had localized CRC (only 36 patients with distant metastasis).

Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) also known as YKL-40, is a highly conserved glycoprotein produced by cancer cells (including CRC cells), macrophages and neutrophils and by fetal and embryonic stem cells (17–19). CHI3L1 regulates VEGF and plays an important role in angiogenesis (19–21) and inflammation (17,22), including inflammation-associated carcinogenic changes of colonic epithelial cells (23,24). Furthermore, YKL-40 participates in the activation of Akt signaling pathways in these cells (25), in cell proliferation and differentiation (18,19), and in apoptosis (26). Serum concentration of CHI3L1 is emerging as a new biomarker in patients with CRC (17,27) High serum CHI3L1 levels from the general population are associated with an increased risk of development (27,28) and death from gastrointestinal cancer (29). In addition, high serum CHI3L1 levels before and after operation for CRC are independent prognostic biomarkers of short overall survival (30–32).

IGFBP-2 is an extracellular protein that binds IGF-2 and, with a smaller affinity, IGF-1 (33). Tumor growth is assisted by various growth factors, and insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2) are among the most important (34,35). They stimulate cell proliferation, regulate differentiation, and prevent apoptosis. A majority of the IGFs are bound to IGFBPs. Their release is dependent on the rate of IGFBP proteolysis and may also induce IGF-independent effects after interaction with specific cell membrane structures (36,37). IGFBP-3 is the principal binding protein in healthy persons, but in patients with CRC the expression of IGFBP-2 may become dominant (38). Activation of the type 1 receptor (IGF-1R) by binding of IGFs is the key point in triggering intracellular metabolic and mitogenic mechanisms. IGFs are recognized as mitogens for colon mucosa (39). IGFBP-2 plays an important role in heat shock protein 27-mediated cancer progression and metastasis (40). IGFBP-2 serum levels are significantly elevated in patients with prostate cancer (41), colon cancer (28,42,43), lung cancer (44) and others.

In the present study, we investigated the serum levels of HSP60, CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2 in patients with metastatic CRC compared to healthy controls. This is the first study that compares the levels of these markers to standard biomarkers used in the monitoring of CRC (CEA and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9)) and that also studies the correlation of tumor characteristics and treatment outcomes to the serum levels of HSP60, CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2.

Materials and methods

Patients and healthy control characteristics

Between November 2011 and May 2013, 97 patients with metastatic CRC and 79 relatively age- and gender matched healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Serum samples were collected before beginning treatment for mCRC (n=52) or at the time of progression during palliative treatment for mCRC (n=45). The majority of patients were after resection of primary tumour (79.4%). In the control group 79 healthy controls after negative colonoscopy were included (45.6% women, median age 62 years). Table I shows the characteristics of the patients and healthy controls.

Table I.

Basic characteristics of patients and healthy controls.

Characteristics	Cancer group (N=97)	Control group (N=79)
Age
Median	64.4	61.5
<50	13 (13.4%)	24 (30.1%)
>50	84 (86.6%)	55 (69.6%)
Sex
Male	60 (61.9%)	43 (54.4%)
Female	37 (38.1%)	36 (45.6%)
Histological type
Adenocarcinoma	91 (93.8%)	–
Mucinous carcinoma	6 (6.2%)	–
Primary site
Right colon (caecum, ascendens, transversum)	20 (20.6%)	–
Left colon (descendens, sigmoideum, rectosigma)	50 (51.5%)	–
Rectum	27 (27.9%)	–
Side of metastasis
Liver	64 (66.0%)	–
Lung	31 (32.0%)	–
Peritoneal	14 (14.4%)	–
Lymphatic nodules	22 (22.7%)	–
Number of metastatic sides
1	57 (58.7)	–
2	28 (28.9)
3 or more	12 (12.4)	–
Number of previous treatment line		–
0	52 (53.6)	–
1	26 (26.8)	–
2	19 (19.6)	–

All patients and controls had adequate liver and renal function (transaminases <2× and creatinine clearance <1,5× upper normal limit) and signed informed consent.

In the cancer group the serum levels of CEA and CA19-9 (median (25–75% percentile); N=97) were 26.1 (4.3–82.9) ug/l and 25.2 (9.95–372.8) kIU/l, respectively. Both markers were significantly elevated compared to the control group (N=79), difference was counted by Mann-Whitney U test (P<0.001; P=0.006, respectively) (45).

Laboratory analyses

Blood for laboratory analyses was collected after overnight fasting via puncture of the cubital vein simultaneously with blood collection for routine examinations. Routine biochemical parameters were measured in fresh samples. For special parameters, blood was standardly centrifuged for 10 min at 3,000 rpm (rotations per minute) and serum was stored at −80°C until analysis. Levels of HSP60 (StressMarq Biosciences), CHI3L1 (R&D Systems) and IGFBP-2 (Mediagnost) in serum samples were determined by commercially available ELISA (enzyme linked immunoassay) kits according to the manufacturer's protocols. The intraassay (or interassay) coefficient of variation (CV) was always less than 10%. Concentrations of CEA and CA19-9 in serum samples were determined by chemiluminiscent immunoanalysis (Architect, Abbott, USA).

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Basic statistics were calculated for parameters measured in the whole group and in different groups and subgroups. Selected statistical data were also graphically processed via Box & Whisker plot diagrams. A non-parametric analysis of variance Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of the distribution of the individual parameters in the different groups and subgroups [median (25–75% percentile)] and a Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann Whitney U with Bonferroni's correction was used in case of comparing 3 subgroups. Due to non-Gaussian distribution of variables Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to determine the dependency of characters. Statistical significance was determined at the border of alpha=0.05. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess the diagnostic accuracy of each parameter; the sensitivity and specificity of optimum cut off point were found. Overall survival was defined as the interval between serum collection and death or the last follow-up.

Results

Baseline characteristic of patients and controls

In the cancer group serum 97 patients with generalized CRC were included (38.1% women, median age 64 years). The most common site of metastases was liver in 66.0% and lung in 32.0% patients. In the control group 79 healthy controls after negative colonoscopy were included (45.6 women, median age 62 years).

Serum levels of HSP60, CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2

The serum level of HSP60 in the cancer group was significantly increased compared to healthy controls [mean was 0.51 (25–75% percentile 0.34–0.86) ng/ml and 0.25 (0.18–0.34) ng/ml, respectively, P<0.001, Fig. 1A]. In the control group there was no significant difference in HSP60 levels between men and women (P=0.844), but there was significant difference in younger than or equal to 55 years [N=24, 0.20 (0.15–0.30) ng/ml] and older than 55 [N=55; 0.27 (0.22–0.35) ng/ml; P=0.021]. Compared to the same aged group with CRC there was significant difference, P<0.001 and <0.001, respectively. In the cancer group there was no significant difference in serum level of HSP60 between sex, age and part of colon with primary tumor (Table II). Insinuate difference (P=0.084) was found between good or moderately and poorly differentiated tumors. No statistically significant differences were found between good or moderately (N=75) and poorly differentiated tumors (N=22, P=0.309) and patients with liver metastases (N=64) and those without (N=33; P=0.217). Positive association was found between patients with non-resected primary tumor (N=20) and patients after resection (N=77; P=0.039) Negative association was identified between patients with and without pulmonary metastases [0.42 (0.25–0.63) ng/l, N=31; 0.52 (0.37–1.22) ng/ml, N=66; P=0.010].

Figure 1.

Comparison of HSP60, CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2 levels in patients with CRC and healthy controls. Differences were calculated using a Mann-Whitney U test. (A) HSP60 levels, (B) CHI3L1 levels and (C) IGFBP-2 levels. *P<0.0001 vs. healthy controls. HSP60, heat shock protein 60; CHI3L1, chitinase-3-like protein 1; IGFBP-2, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2; CRC, colorectal cancer.

Table II.

Serum HSP-60, CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2 levels in the different groups (difference was calculated by Mann-Whitney U test).

	Serum HSP60 (ng/ml)			Serum CHI3L1 (ng/ml)			Serum IGFBP-2 (ng/ml)
Variable	Median	25–75% percentile	P-value	Median	25–75% percentile	P-value	Median	25–75% percentile	p-value
Age (n=97), years									0.289
≤55 (n=24)	0.51	0.36–1.02	0.878	125.0	93.0–227.5	0.025a	551.3	373.8–843.6
>55 (n=73)	0.51	0.34–0.85		195.5	125.3–609.0		634.9	435.6–1026.0
Sex,									0.870
Female (n=37)	0.52	0.35–1.19	0.329	153.0	78.0–384.0	0.114	622.9	377.5–1006.0
Male (n=60)	0.45	0.34–0.82		194.5	112.8–593.5		613.4	448.5–955.3
Primary tumor localization
Right colon (n=20) (caecum,   ascendens, transversum)	0.56	0.38–1.13	0.367a >0.99 vs. leftb	211.0	113.3–573.3	.179a >0.99 vs. leftb	578.9	290.0–725.4	0.322a 0.401 vs. leftb
Left colon (n=50) (descendens, sigmoideum, rectosigma)	0.52	0.38–1.10	0. 571 vs. rectumb	190.5	106.5–593.5	0.227 vs. rectumb	639.3	447.0–1029.0	>0.99 vs. rectumb
Sigmoideum, rectosigma, rectum (n=27)	0.46	0.31–0.87	0.754 vs. rightb	127.0	73.0–334.0	0.512 vs. rightb	677.2	404.1–975.0	0.817 vs. rightb
Degree of differentiation
Well or moderate (n=75)	0.50	0.35–0.78	0.307	188.0 166.0	105.0–592.0	0.410	613.4	435.5–954.0	0.743
Poorly (n=21)	0.63	0.33–1.21			92.5–568.5		714.0	374.9–1204.0
Primary tumor
Presence (n=20)	0.64	0.45–1.28	0.039a	181.5	119.8–898.8	0.214	869.1	432.0–1063.0	0.190
Absence (n=77)	0.46	0.34–0.77		177.0	99.0–402.0		565.7	424.0–913.2
Liver metastases
Presence (n=64)	0.52	0.36–1.20	0.217	180.0	102.0–628.5	0.568	613.4	435.6–1035.0	0.328
Absence (n=33)	0.43	0.34–0.62		177.0	100.0–278.0		608.3	417.2–851.1
Lung metastases
Presence (n=31)	0.42		0.010a	165.0	96.0–221.0	0.132	551.3	436.0–743.1	0.300
Absence (n=66)	0.52			188.0	110.3–604.5		677.2	413.5–1031.0

^aKruskal-Wallis test

^bMann Whitney U with Bonferroni's correction. HSP60, heat shock protein 60; CHI3L1, chitinase-3-like protein 1; IGFBP-2, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2, CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen.

The serum level of CHI3L1 in the cancer group was 177.0 (102.0–582.0) ng/ml and was significantly elevated compared to 76.0 (50.0–109.0) ng/ml in the healthy control group (Fig. 1B, P<0.001). In the control group, there was no significant difference in CHI3L1 levels between men and women (P=0.927), between younger than or equal to 55 years (N=24) and older than 55 (N=55; P=0.108). In the cancer group there was no significant difference in CHI3L1 levels between men and women (P=0.114), but there was significant difference in younger than or equal to 55 years (P=0.025, Table I).

In the cancer group, there was no significant difference between part of colon with primary tumor, tumor grade and presence or absence of the primary tumor. No statistically significant differences between patients with liver metastases were found (P=0.568). There was indicated difference in presence or absence of pulmonary metastases (P=0.132). The group of patients with liver metastases without pulmonary metastases was divided into patients with the sum of the longest dimension of liver metastases smaller than 100 millimeters (N=20), larger than or equal to 100 millimeters (N=29) and control group (N=79). The difference in CHI3L1 levels was statistically significant (P<0.001 by Kruskal-Wallis test), 496.0 (136.5–876.0) mg/ml, 188.0 (111.0–293.0) mg/ml and 76.0 (51.0–109.0), respectively (Fig. 2A).

Figure 2.

Serum levels of CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2 in patients without pulmonary and with liver metastasis. Differences were calculated using a Mann Whitney U with Bonferroni's correction test. (A) CHI3L1 and (B) IGFBP-2 levels in patients with liver metastases ≥100 mm, <100 mm and healthy controls. CHI3L1, chitinase-3-like protein 1; IGFBP-2, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2.

The serum level of IGFBP-2 in the cancer group was 613.4 (427.9–968.6) ng/ml and was significantly elevated compared to 308.1 (219.6–417.8) ng/ml in the healthy control group (Fig. 1C, P<0.001). In the control group there was no significant difference in IGFBP-2 levels between men and women (P=0.486), between younger than or equal to 55 years (N=24) and older than 55 (N=55; P=0.189). Compared to the same aged group with CRC there were significant differences, P<0.001 and <0.001, respectively.

In the cancer group there were no significant differences between sex, age, part of colon with primary tumor and tumor grade (Table I). There was a slight but non-statistically significant difference between presence or absence of primary tumor, 869.1 (432.0–1063.0) ng/ml (N=28) and 565.7 (424.0–913.2) ng/l (N=69) respectively (P=0.190). No statistically significant differences between patients with and without liver metastases (P=0.328) and with and without pulmonary metastases (P=0.300).

The group of patients with liver metastases without pulmonary metastases was divided into patients with the sum of the longest dimension of liver metastases smaller than 100 millimeters (N=20) and larger than or equal to 100 millimeters (N=29). and control group (N=79). The difference in CHI3L1 levels was statistically significant (P<0.001 by Kruskal-Wallis test), 935.5 (542.1–1204.0) ng/ml, 522.5 (368.6–722.0) ng/ml and 307.0 (207.0–411.8), respectively (Fig. 2B).

Sensitivity and specificity of HSP60, CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2. ROC curve analysis showed that serum HSP60 with an AUC of 0.856 (Fig. 3A) and serum level cut-off values of 0.42 ng/ml has the sensitivity and specificity to distinguish CRC from healthy controls at a rate of 62.89 and 94.74%, respectively (P<0.001). CHI3L1 with an AUC of 0.808 (Fig. 3B) and serum level cut-off values of 195.0 ng/ml has a sensitivity and specificity rate of 47.42 and 93.67%, respectively (P<0.001). IGFBP-2 with an AUC of 0.798 (Fig. 3C) and serum level cut-off values of 630.0 ng/ml has a sensitivity and specificity rate of 48.96 and 94.52%, respectively (P<0.001).

Figure 3.

Receiver operator curve analysis of HSP60, CHI3L1 and IGFBP-2. The sensitivity and specificity of (A) HSP60, (B) CHI3L1 and (C) IGFBP-2 to distinguish CRC from healthy controls. HSP60, heat shock protein 60; CHI3L1, chitinase-3-like protein 1; IGFBP-2, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2; CRC, colorectal cancer.

The level of HSP60, CHI3L1, IGFBP-2 and CEA as prognostic factor

The serum level of HSP60 and IGFBP-2 appears to have a prognostic value. The cut-off for serum HSP60 level was determined as 0.42 ng/ml. Patients were divided into groups with negative serum levels of HSP60 (<0.42 ng/ml, N=41), slight increase (0.42 and ≤0.84 ng/ml, N=33) and large increase (≥0.84 ng/ml, N=23). From all 97 patients overall survival (OS, time from first sample collection to death) was calculated. No significant differences (P=0.610) between groups with negative HSP60 levels (mOS 17.2 months) and groups with slight increase (mOS 13.7 months) were observed. But there were statistically significant differences between the groups with negative (mOS 17.2 months) and large increase of HSP60 serum levels (mOS 5.0 months, P<0.001; Fig. 4A).

Figure 4.

Overall survival according to HSP60, CHI3L1, IGFBP-2 and CEA levels. Kaplan-Meier curves. Difference between curves was calculated by log-rank test. Kaplan-Meier curves of patient (A) HSPp60, (B) CHI3L1, (C) IGFBP-2 and (D) CEA levels. HSP60, heat shock protein 60; CHI3L1, chitinase-3-like protein 1; IGFBP-2, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen.

The cut-off for serum CHI3L1 level was determined as 195.0 ng/ml. Patients were divided into groups with negative serum levels of HSP60 (<195.0 ng/ml, N=37), slight increase (195.0 and <390.0 ng/ml, N=27) and large increase (>390.0 ng/ml, N=33). No significant differences (P=0.284) between the groups with negative CHI3L1 levels (mOS 13.7 months) and with slight increase (mOS 12.9 months) were observed nor between the groups with negative (mOS 13.7 months) and large increase of CHI3L1 serum levels (mOS 9.7 months, P=0.680; Fig. 4B).

The cut-off for serum IGFBP-2 level was determined as 630.0 ng/ml. Patients were divided into groups with negative serum levels of IGFBP-2 (<630.0 ng/ml, N=51), slight increase (630.0 and <1,260.0 ng/ml, N=34) and large increase (≥1,260.0 ng/ml, N=12). A statistically significant difference (P=0.012) between the groups with negative HSP60 levels (mOS 16.4 months) and with slight increase (mOS 9.6 months) was observed. There was also a statistically significant difference between the groups with negative (mOS 16.4 months) and large increase of IGFBP-2 serum levels (mOS 4.5 months, P=0.007; Fig. 4C).

The cut-off level for serum CEA was determined as 5.0 ug/l. Patients were divided into groups with negative serum levels of CEA (<5.0 ng/ml, N=27), slight increase (5.0 and <10.0 ng/ml, N=8) and large increase (≥10.0 ng/ml, N=62). No significant differences (P=0.089) between the groups with negative HSP60 levels (mOS 17.2 months) and slight increase (mOS 10.2 months) were observed, nor between the groups with negative (mOS 17.2 months) and large increase of CEA serum levels (mOS 10.4 months, P=0.199; Fig. 4D).

Discussion

Early diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment even in metastatic CRC with liver involvement. Therefore, new biological markers for early detection (more sensitive and specific than CEA and CA19-9) and predictors of prognosis for CRC are urgently needed in clinical practice.

HSP60 is a key factor involved in inflammation, and serum HSP60 levels might also be increased in patients with inflammatory pathologies such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (46). Only one previous study has evaluated the application of HSP60 in the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC. Hamelin et al published results from 152 patients with localized CRC and 130 healthy controls. HSP60 AUC was 0.7, which was identical to CEA in this group. They suggested that levels are higher in stage IV compared to I–III, but there is no information about the number of samples in each stage (16). Our data show similar results of sensitivity and specificity compared to CEA (AUC 0.856, and 0.905 respectively) in patients with metastatic disease. These results suggested that serum HSP60 could be a useful biomarker in CRC. In addition, we present a strong correlation between HSP60 and patient survival.

CHI3L1 (Chitinase 3-like 1, YKL-40), a highly conserved glycoprotein produced by cancer cells (including CRC cells), seems to be a new biomarker in patients with cancer (16,26). High serum CHI3L1 levels among the general population are associated with an increased risk of development (27,28) and death from gastrointestinal cancer (29). In addition, high serum CHI3L1 levels before and after operation for CRC are independent prognostic biomarkers of short overall survival (30–32). There is only limited data for metastatic CRC. CHI3L1 levels are different in patients with CRC compared to healthy controls, but sensitivity is not better than CEA. On the contrary, CHI3L1 levels correlate with extent of liver involvement in cases without pulmonary metastases. A difference between overall survival in patients with higher levels of CHI3L1 compared to lower levels was not observed.

IGFBP-2 is an extracellular protein that binds IGF-2 and, with a smaller affinity, IGF-1 (33) IGFBP-2 plays an important role in heat shock protein 27-mediated cancer progression and metastasis (39). IGFBP-2 serum levels were reported as significantly elevated in patients with colon cancer in three studies. Liou et al, presented data from 162 patients before surgery for CRC with a sensitivity rate of 80.2% and specificity rate of 64.0%. Higher levels of IGFBP-2 were associated with an increased risk of mortality (38). Renehan et al, showed data of 92 patients with CRC, but only 29 with distant metastasis. They reported correlation of serum levels with tumor size and sensitivity in metastatic disease at a rate of 55% with specificity at a rate of 92% (42). Kushlinski et al, showed data for 95 patients, but only 17 with mCRC colon cancer patients overall (43).

Our cohort shows the same sensitivity and specificity as previously reported studies. Additionally, our data show statistically significant correlation between serum levels and extent of liver involvement. The entry level of IGFBP-2 appears to be a prognostic factor that strongly correlates with overall survival. This can be partially explained by the strong correlation of both markers with liver involvement in patients without pulmonary metastases. Patients with a sum of liver metastases larger than 100 mm had higher levels of IGFBP-2 and their liver reserve was smaller. Another partial explanation could be that patients with non-resected primary tumor, who have higher levels of IGFBP-2, were not operated on because of their worse performance status, thereby possibly being a reason for the worse outcome of the treatment.

On the other hand, we are aware of the limited number of patients investigated in this study. Further investigation and data are needed to clarify these promising results on a larger cohort of patients.

Our data indicated that serum HSP60 could be used as an effective biomarker for the detection of distant metastasis with the same sensitivity as CEA and better sensitivity than CA19-9. Serum IGFBP-2 has a smaller sensitivity than CEA and a similar one to CA19-9. HSP60 and IGFBP-2 may play an important role in promoting CRC progression and dissemination. HSP60 and IGFBP-2 levels correlate with extension of liver involvement in patients without pulmonary metastases, who are the candidates for a curative liver resection. The entry level of HSP60 and IGFBP-2 appears to be a prognostic factor that correlates with overall survival.

Funding

The present study was supported by research projects from the Ministry of Industry and Trade if the Czech Republic (grant no. TIP FR-TI3/666), Charles University (Czech Republic; grant no. Progres Q25) and the Ministry of Health (Czech Republic; grant no. DRO VFN64165).

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and analysed for the present study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Authors' contributions

MV, LP, MK, TH, TZ and JP conceived and designed the study. MV, DL, VF and JP recruited patients and obtained samples. MK performed the laboratory analyses. MV, DL, LP, JP and VF analysed and interpreted the data, and wrote the manuscript. MK, TH, TZ, JP and VF revised the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study protocol conformed to the Declaration of Helsinki, and was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague (Czech Republic). Each participating patient had provided signed written informed consent.

Patient consent for publication

Consent was obtained for the publication of patient data.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.