Global Proteomics-based Identification and Validation of Thymosin Beta-4 X-Linked as a Prognostic Marker for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Chi LH, Chang WM, Chang YC, Chan YC, Tai CC, Leung KW, Chen CL, Wu AT, Lai TC, Li YJ, Hsiao M

Scientific reports22 Aug 2017Cited by 24 (Europe PMC)

PMID28831179PMCIDPMC5567379DOI10.1038/s41598-017-09539-wPepBankPUB-28831179

Summary

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a major health concern worldwide. We applied the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze paired normal (N) and tumor (T) samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in HNSCC cell lines to identify tumor-associated biomarkers. Our results showed a number of proteins found to be over-expressed in HNSCC. We identified thymosin beta-4 X-linked (TMSB4X) is one of the most significant candidate biomarkers. Higher TMSB4X expression in the tumor was found by N/T-paired HNSCC samples at both RNA and protein level. Overexpression of TMSB4X was found significantly associated with poor prognosis of overall survival (OS, P = 0.006) and recurrence-free survival (RFS, P = 0.013) in HNSCC patients. Silencing of TMSB4X expression in HNSCC cell line reduced the proliferation and invasion ability in vitro, as well as inhibited the cervical lymph node metastasis in vivo. Altogether, our global proteomics analysis identified that TMSB4X is a newly discovered biomarker in HNSCC whose functions resulted in enhanced proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. TMSB4X may be a potential therapeutic target for treating HNSCC patients.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study7

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured4

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In paired HNSCC samples, TMSB4X expression was higher in tumor than in normal tissue at the RNA level.
In plain wordsIn head and neck cancer samples, the body's own thymosin beta‑4 X-linked RNA was higher in tumor than normal tissue.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseTMSB4X RNA expression in tumor vs normal
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Higher TMSB4X expression in the tumor was found by N/T-paired HNSCC samples at both RNA and protein level.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We applied the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze paired normal (N) and tumor (T) samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in HNSCC cell lines to identify tumor-associated biomarkers.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2883117901
02HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In paired HNSCC samples, TMSB4X expression was higher in tumor than in normal tissue at the protein level.
In plain wordsIn head and neck cancer samples, the body's own thymosin beta‑4 X-linked protein was higher in tumor than normal tissue.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
IncreaseTMSB4X protein expression in tumor vs normal
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Higher TMSB4X expression in the tumor was found by N/T-paired HNSCC samples at both RNA and protein level.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We applied the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze paired normal (N) and tumor (T) samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in HNSCC cell lines to identify tumor-associated biomarkers.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2883117902
03HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In HNSCC patients, TMSB4X overexpression was significantly associated with poor overall survival.
In plain wordsIn head and neck cancer patients, high levels of the body's own thymosin beta‑4 X-linked were linked to shorter survival.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseTMSB4X overexpression and overall survival
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Measurements
P value
0.006
overall survival
Source sentences
Summary
Overexpression of TMSB4X was found significantly associated with poor prognosis of overall survival (OS, P = 0.006) and recurrence-free survival (RFS, P = 0.013) in HNSCC patients.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We applied the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze paired normal (N) and tumor (T) samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in HNSCC cell lines to identify tumor-associated biomarkers.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2883117903
04HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In HNSCC patients, TMSB4X overexpression was significantly associated with poor recurrence-free survival.
In plain wordsIn head and neck cancer patients, high levels of the body's own thymosin beta‑4 X-linked were linked to earlier cancer return.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseTMSB4X overexpression and recurrence-free survival
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Measurements
P value
0.013
recurrence-free survival
Source sentences
Summary
Overexpression of TMSB4X was found significantly associated with poor prognosis of overall survival (OS, P = 0.006) and recurrence-free survival (RFS, P = 0.013) in HNSCC patients.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We applied the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze paired normal (N) and tumor (T) samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in HNSCC cell lines to identify tumor-associated biomarkers.
This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2883117904

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).

05AnimalNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In vivo, silencing TMSB4X expression in an HNSCC cell line inhibited cervical lymph node metastasis.
In plain wordsIn animals, switching off thymosin beta‑4 X-linked in head and neck cancer cells reduced spread to neck lymph nodes.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseCervical lymph node metastasis after TMSB4X silencing
Study
n: not reported in source
In vivo cervical lymph node metastasis
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Silencing of TMSB4X expression in HNSCC cell line reduced the proliferation and invasion ability in vitro, as well as inhibited the cervical lymph node metastasis in vivo
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We applied the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze paired normal (N) and tumor (T) samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in HNSCC cell lines to identify tumor-associated biomarkers.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2883117907
06LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Other
In an HNSCC cell line, silencing TMSB4X expression reduced proliferation.
In plain wordsIn lab cells from head and neck cancer, switching off thymosin beta‑4 X-linked slowed cell growth.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseHNSCC cell proliferation after TMSB4X silencing
Study
humann: not reported in source
HNSCC cell line
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Silencing of TMSB4X expression in HNSCC cell line reduced the proliferation and invasion ability in vitro
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We applied the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze paired normal (N) and tumor (T) samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in HNSCC cell lines to identify tumor-associated biomarkers.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2883117905
07LabNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneIn vitro (cells)Other
In an HNSCC cell line, silencing TMSB4X expression reduced invasion ability.
In plain wordsIn lab cells from head and neck cancer, switching off thymosin beta‑4 X-linked reduced cell invasion.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
DecreaseHNSCC cell invasion after TMSB4X silencing
Study
humann: not reported in source
HNSCC cell line
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Silencing of TMSB4X expression in HNSCC cell line reduced the proliferation and invasion ability in vitro
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We applied the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze paired normal (N) and tumor (T) samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis in HNSCC cell lines to identify tumor-associated biomarkers.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2883117906

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
12 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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