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.
Keywords: clinical value; gastric cancer; regenerating protein I alpha; serum; time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay.
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