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. 2022 Oct 14;23(20):12291.
doi: 10.3390/ijms232012291.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin as Potential Predictive Biomarker of Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in Psoriatic Patients: A Pilot Study

Alice Verdelli  1 , Marzia Caproni  1 , Alessio Coi  2 , Alberto Corrà  3 , Donatella Degl'Innocenti  4 , Marzia Vasarri  4 , Lavinia Quintarelli  1 , Valter Volpi  1 , Emanuele Maria Cipollini  1 , Emanuela Barletta  4
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Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin as Potential Predictive Biomarker of Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in Psoriatic Patients: A Pilot Study

Alice Verdelli et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Studies have demonstrated a higher risk of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC) and a modestly increased melanoma risk in patients with psoriasis. To date, no biomarkers predictive of evolution have been identified yet. Methods: The aim of this prospective case-control study was to investigate the potential role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a predictive biomarker of skin cancers in psoriatic patients. Patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis were enrolled, as well as healthy subjects and patients with skin cancers as controls. Plasma protein expression of NGAL, metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 was performed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In all the patients who developed skin cancer at follow-up, NGAL, MMP-2, and MMP-9 serum levels were dosed again. Results: Plasma NGAL levels were significantly higher in psoriatic patients with NMSC than without (182.3 ± 36.6 ng/mL vs. 139.9 ± 39.3 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). Plasma NGAL levels were significantly higher (p < 0.00001) in patients with psoriasis and NMSC than in patients with skin tumors without psoriasis (182.3 vs. 122.9). Patients with psoriasis who developed NMSC at follow-up showed increased plasma MMP-9 levels. Conclusion: NGAL seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of NMSC but not melanoma in patients with psoriasis.

Keywords: biomarkers; human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; lipocalin; melanoma; non-melanoma skin cancers; psoriasis; skin cancers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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