BREAKTHROUGH IN LUNG CANCER: UP Scientists Uncover Biomarkers That Could Revolutionize Early Detection

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a country where lung cancer remains one of the deadliest health threats, a team of Filipino scientists has unearthed a discovery that could dramatically alter the trajectory of diagnosis and survival. A groundbreaking study from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) has identified 33 potential biomarkers that may enable earlier detection of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), a game-changing development in the fight against this silent killer.

With nearly 2 million lives lost to lung cancer worldwide each year, and over 20,000 deaths recorded in the Philippines in 2022 alone, the gravity of the disease is undeniable. NSCLC, the most prevalent form of lung cancer, accounts for more than 80% of all cases. The tragedy lies not just in its prevalence, but in how it often eludes detection until it is far too advanced to treat effectively.

But hope may be on the horizon.

A Filipino-Led Scientific Triumph

Led by Dr. Baby Rorielyn Dimayacyac-Esleta of UPD-CS’s Institute of Chemistry, a collaborative research team composed of experts from UP Diliman and the Lung Center of the Philippines embarked on an ambitious journey using advanced quantitative proteomics. Their mission: to investigate protein expression in early-stage NSCLC lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues and compare them with adjacent healthy tissues from Filipino patients.

What they found could be the breakthrough modern medicine has long been waiting for.

In total, the researchers detected 4,403 proteins exhibiting abnormal behavior within cancerous tissue. Among them, 33 proteins stood out—acting like biochemical flags waving urgently from within the tumor itself.

“These proteins have aberrant expression in both gene and protein levels, and their gene levels are correlated with poor 5-year survival rates of NSCLC patients,” explained Dr. Esleta. “Some of them have already been found in either tissues or blood plasma of NSCLC patients, which heightens their potential clinical utility.”

These key proteins are involved in crucial biological functions such as protein translation, carbohydrate metabolism, and the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway—functions often hijacked by cancer cells to promote rapid growth and spread. Disruptions in these processes, the study confirms, are linked to NSCLC progression.

The Promise of Precision Diagnosis

The implications are staggering. These biomarkers could potentially serve as early warning signals, allowing doctors to diagnose NSCLC in its earliest stages—when it is most treatable—long before symptoms even appear.

Dr. Esleta and her team are now accelerating the biomarker development pipeline, beginning with the qualification phase, which will test large sets of patient specimens using targeted proteomics techniques. This effort is expected to pave the way for more precise, non-invasive diagnostic tools that could complement or even surpass current methods like chest X-rays, low-dose CT scans, and bronchoscopies.

The researchers are establishing a dedicated Clinical Proteomics Laboratory at UP Diliman’s Institute of Chemistry—a state-of-the-art facility designed to harness this new frontier in cancer diagnostics.

A Beacon for Future Research

Their study, “Discovery of Key Candidate Protein Biomarkers in Early-Stage Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma through Quantitative Proteomics,” was recently published in the Journal of Proteome Research, a prestigious international journal renowned for cutting-edge studies in global protein science.

This landmark achievement was made possible through the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)—a strong testament to what can happen when Filipino science is empowered and funded to rise to global challenges.

Hope for Millions

Lung cancer has long held a grim reputation: deadly, elusive, and devastating. But this new discovery ignites a powerful sense of hope. With science as its ally and determination in its core, the Philippines is not just following global health innovation—it’s leading it.

As Dr. Esleta and her team continue their pursuit of diagnostic precision, one truth becomes clear: The battle against lung cancer is not yet lost—and with this discovery, the tide may finally be turning.

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