Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum of patients with non- small cell lung cancer, for assessing their possible diagnostic and prognostic roles. We enrolled 48 patients newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and 40 healthy controls. TNF- α, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured in the serum of all the subjects with specific radioimmunoassay kits, while EGF was analyzed by sandwich enzyme immunoassay techniques. A statistically significant difference was observed between lung cancer patients and the control group regarding the values of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum. Moreover, TNF-α, IL-8 and VEGF levels were higher in patients with advanced stages compared to early stages. In addition, higher serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were found in smokers than in non-smokers, both in patients and controls. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were all elevated in lung cancer patients, suggesting that inflammatory cytokines could be jointly used as a screening tool. Though TNF-α, IL-8 and VEGF levels were related to advanced disease, long-term survival studies of NSCLC patients should be performed to confirm whether they can act as biomarkers of advanced disease. In addition, smoking would be an important contributor to the processes of inflammation and lung cancer.

Highlights

  • Lung cancer, which characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung, is the leading cause of cancer death and the third most common form of malignancy

  • A statistically significant difference was observed between lung cancer patients and the control group regarding the values of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum

  • Higher serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were found in smokers than in non-smokers, both in patients and controls

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Lung cancer, which characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung, is the leading cause of cancer death and the third most common form of malignancy. This disease brings a devastating effect to 1.30 million people worldwide in 2004 (Ferlay et al, 2007; Dalaveris et al, 2009; Bodelon et al, 2013) and reveals a general upward trend especially in developing countries, such as China and India. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are the typical studied ones

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call