Levels of endothelin-1 and high molecular weight kininogen in blood of breast cancer patients after SARS-coV-2 infection

Abstract

The aim. To analyze the blood levels of endothelin-1 (ET -1) and high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK) in patients with breast cancer (BC) previously infected with the new coronavirus.Material and methods. The study group included 20 patients with stage II -IV BC (invasive carcinoma). All patients were receiving chemotherapy at the time of their SA RS-CoV-2 infection. The comparison group included 19 women without breast cancer, who were matched for age. All women of both groups had an RT-PC R confirmed SA RS-Cov-2 infection. Blood levels of ET -1 and HMWK were measured by ELISA 3–10 weeks after the positive antigen test results. The control group included 10 women of the same age without cancer and without CO VID -19 symptoms and anti-SA RS-CoV-2 antibodies.Results. The ET -1 levels in the comparison group were within the reference range, while HMWK levels were significantly higher than those in breast cancer patients. In BC patients with lung metastases, the ET -1 levels were higher than those in the comparison group patients, while in others (no history of lung metastases, with mild infection course or pneumonia), the ET -1 levels were similar to those in the comparison and control groups. The HMWK levels in the study and comparison groups were significantly higher than those in controls. Among BC patients, there were women who had significantly higher ET -1 and HMWK levels compared to the reference levels, and the majority of these patients had lung metastases and previous CO VID -19 pneumonia.Conclusion. The measurement of HMWK blood levels demonstrated that the plasma contact activation system and the kallikrein-kinin system were active for a long period after the infection both in BC patients and in women without cancer. A high level of ET -1, the endothelial dysfunction marker, persisted for a long time in some BC patients. Our results were consistent with results of other studies supporting the hypothesis that SA RS-CoV-2 virus infection is a systemic vascular disease with long-term consequences, and its mechanisms require further study.