Serum Dihydropyrimidinase-Like 3 Concentration in Patients with Gastric Cancer and Its Diagnostic Value

We aimed to investigate the serum concentration of dihydropyrimidinase-like 3 (DPYSL3) in patients with gastric cancer and its clinical significance.

Seventy four patients with gastric cancer from Wuhan Central Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China from October 2018 to April 2019 were selected as the case group. Sixty patients with normal gastric mucosa or mild non-atrophic gastritis were selected as the control group. Serum DPYSL3, CA72-4 and CEA concentrations were measured in both groups.

The serum DPYSL3 concentration in the case group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (22.04±9.22 vs. 8.36±4.19 μg/L, P<0.001). The serum DPYSL3 concentration in patients with advanced gastric cancer was significantly higher than that in early gastric cancer (27.09±9.12 vs. 13.04±8.22 μg/L, P<0.01); serum DPYSL3 concentration was significantly correlated with tumor size, TNM stage and differentiation (P<0.05). When the cutoff value was 20.98 μg/L, the serum DPYSL3 concentration could differentiate the gastric cancer with ROCAUC 0.882 (95% CI: 0.828-0.937) with sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 94%, respectively. Serum CA72-4 concentration could differentiate the gastric cancer from health controls with ROCAUC 0.812 (95% CI: 0.734-0.834), serum CEA concentration could differentiate gastric cancer with ROCAUC 0.612 (95% CI: 0.534 ~ 0.634). The serum concentrations of DPYSL3, CA72-4 and CEA in gastric cancer patients were increased compared to health controls.

Three serological markers have complementary diagnostic value for gastric cancer. Serum DPYSL3 is a new potential molecular marker for gastric cancer.