Cytoskeleton-associated protein 4 is a novel serodiagnostic marker for esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma

Recent years have witnessed significant progress in the treatment of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, the prognosis of ESCC is still unsatisfactory. Bio-markers are required to improve identification of high-risk populations and help management of ESCC. This study was to evaluate the role of serum CKAP4 in ESCC. This longitudinal study recruited 207 ESCC patients and age-/sex-matched healthy controls. Circulating levels of CKAP4 were measured using ELISA kits, while the expression of CKAP4 in esophageal tissue was evaluated using Western blotting. Serum CKAP4 levels were higher in ESCC patients (380.2±171.3 pg/mL) than healthy controls (271.8±97.4 pg/mL;