Journals / Hitit Medical Journal / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 3

Diagnostic Performance of Serum Soluble HLA-G for Lung Cancer: A Case–Control Study

Akciğer Kanserinde Serum Çözünür HLA-G Düzeylerinin Tanısal Performansı: Bir Olgu–Kontrol Çalışması

Pages
476–485
Publication Date
2026-10-14
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Keywords: Biomarkers, HLA-G Antigens, Lung Neoplasms.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a nonclassical class I molecule with immunosuppressive properties that may facilitate tumor immune escape.
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Key Findings & Data:This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum sHLA-G levels in patients with lung cancer and to investigate whether smoking status influences these levels.
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Conclusion & Impact:Keywords: Biomarkers, HLA-G Antigens, Lung Neoplasms.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Akciğer neoplazileri · biyobelirteçler · HLA-G antijenleri

Abstract

Objective: Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a nonclassical class I molecule with immunosuppressive properties that may facilitate tumor immune escape. Elevated circulating soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) levels have been reported in several malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum sHLA-G levels in patients with lung cancer and to investigate whether smoking status influences these levels. Materials and Methods: This case–control study included 62 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer, 40 smoker controls, and 31 nonsmoker healthy controls. Serum sHLA-G levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical comparisons among groups were performed using one-way analysis of variance and correlation analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to assess the diagnostic performance of sHLA-G. Results: Mean serum sHLA-G levels were significantly higher in patients with lung cancer than in nonsmoker controls (16.14 ± 8.71 U/mL vs 10.21 ± 4.77 U/mL, p=0.04). When smoker and nonsmoker controls were combined, the difference remained significant (p<0.001). No significant correlations were observed between sHLA-G levels and age or smoking exposure within the groups. ROC curve analysis yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.785 (95% CI, 0.706-0.864), with 88% sensitivity and 60% specificity at the reported cut-off value. Conclusion: Serum sHLA-G levels were significantly higher in patients with lung cancer than in controls. No significant association between smoking status and serum sHLA-G levels was observed in this cohort. These findings suggest that sHLA-G may have potential as an adjunctive diagnostic biomarker for lung cancer. Larger prospective studies are required to validate its clinical utility. Keywords: Biomarkers, HLA-G Antigens, Lung Neoplasms.

Özet

Amaç: İnsan lökosit antijeni-G (HLA-G), tümörün bağışıklık sisteminden kaçmasını kolaylaştıran, immünosupresif özelliklere sahip klasik olmayan bir sınıf I molekülüdür. Birçok malignitede dolaşımdaki çözünür HLA-G (sHLA-G) düzeylerinin yüksek olduğu bildirilmiştir. Bu çalışma, akciğer kanseri hastalarında serum sHLA-G düzeylerinin tanısal performansını değerlendirmeyi ve sigara içmenin sHLA-G düzeyleri üzerindeki potansiyel etkisini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu olgu–kontrol çalışmasına 62 yeni tanı konmuş akciğer kanseri hastası, 40 sigara içen kontrol ve 31 sigara içmeyen sağlıklı kontrol dahil edilmiştir. Serum sHLA-G düzeyleri, enzime bağlı immünosorbent analiz (ELISA) kullanılarak ölçülmüştür. Gruplar arasındaki istatistiksel karşılaştırmalar tek yönlü varyans analizi ve korelasyon analizleri kullanılarak yapılmıştır. sHLA-G'nin tanısal performansını değerlendirmek için ROC eğrisi analizi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Akciğer kanseri hastalarında ortalama serum sHLA-G düzeyleri, sigara içmeyen kontrollere göre anlamlı derecede daha yüksekti (16,14 ± 8,71 U/mL'ye karşı 10,21 ± 4,77 U/mL; p=0,04). Sigara içen ve içmeyen kontrol grupları birleştirildiğinde fark anlamlılığını korudu (p<0,001). Gruplar içinde sHLA-G düzeyleri ile yaş veya sigara maruziyeti arasında anlamlı bir korelasyon gözlenmedi. ROC analizi, bildirilen kesme değerinde %88 duyarlılık ve %60 özgüllük ile 0,785'lik bir eğri altı alanı (AUC) gösterdi (%95 güven aralığı, 0,706-0,864). Sonuç: Akciğer kanseri hastalarında serum sHLA-G düzeyleri kontrollere göre anlamlı derecede yüksekti. Bu kohortta sigara içme durumu ile serum sHLA-G düzeyleri arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmadı. Bulgular, sHLA-G'nin akciğer kanseri için yardımcı bir tanısal biyobelirteç olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Klinik kullanım değerini doğrulamak için daha büyük prospektif çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır. Anahtar kelimeler: Akciğer neoplazileri, biyobelirteçler, HLA-G antijenleri.

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Cite This Article

Özcan, M. E., Memişoğulları, R., Aydın, L. Y. (2026). Diagnostic Performance of Serum Soluble HLA-G for Lung Cancer: A Case–Control Study. Hitit Medical Journal, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 3, 476–485. https://doi.org/10.52827/hititmedj.1894658

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