Serologic detection of regenerating protein I alpha by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay and its clinical value in gastric cancer.

[BACKGROUND] Regenerating protein I alpha (REG Iα) plays a key role in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). However, the clinical application value of serum REG Iα in GC remains largely unknown.

[METHODS] Serum REG Iα levels were analyzed through time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) in healthy controls (HCs) and patients with benign gastric disease (BGD) and GC.

[RESULTS] The REG Iα levels of patients with GC were significantly higher than those of HCs and patients with BGD (P < .0001). The REG Iα levels were higher in patients with GC with poor pathological differentiation type; tumor, node, and metastasis stages III-IV; deep tumor invasion (T3-T4); and distant metastasis (P < .05). The diagnostic efficiency of the combined REG Iα, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) tests improved compared with that of the single-indicator test for the diagnosis of patients with GC.

[CONCLUSION] REG Iα-TRFIA may facilitate the ancillary diagnosis of GC and have a monitoring role for further progression of GC. It can also help elucidate the possible diagnostic role of serum REG Iα as a noninvasive tool.