Exploring Protein Expression Profiles in Lung Cancer Insufficient Microwave Ablation: Implications for Recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient ablation is a significant factor contributing to the recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and it is of great significance to explore the protein expression profile of lung cancer cells after insufficient ablation. METHODS: We establish an insufficient microwave ablation model of lung cancer xenograft in mice, identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and involved signaling pathways through proteomic sequencing, and confirm proteins expression via immunohistochemistry (IHC). Utilizing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, we investigate proteins associated with human lung cancer prognosis. RESULTS: Proteomic sequencing results reveal that 99 proteins exhibited differential expression levels. Subsequent Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses indicate that the DEPs are significantly enriched in metabolic processes. Several DEPs are identified and subsequently confirmed through immunohistochemistry (IHC). Among these proteins, CTP synthase 1 (CTPS1) and Thymidylate synthetase (TYMS), both of which play roles in nucleotide metabolism, are found to be significantly associated with the survival outcomes of patients with lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Insufficient ablation can cause alterations in nucleotide metabolism, potentially leading to recurrence and metastasis.