angiogenin and Carcinoma--Non-Small-Cell-Lung

Early recognition of lung cancer is a prerequisite for any strategy to improve lung cancer treatment outcome. Here we report a cross-sectional study intended as a proof of principle investigation using breath based detection (exhaled breath condensate, EBC) of angiogenic markers (VEGF, bFGF, angiogenin), TNF-alpha and IL-8 to discriminate 74 individuals, with confirmed presence or absence (X-ray, CT) of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). Levels of angiogenic markers bFGF, angiogenin and VEGF in EBC significantly discriminated between 17 individuals with newly detected NSCLC versus stable and exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients as well as healthy volunteers. Levels of IL-8 and TNF-alpha in EBC indicated acute inflammation, e.g. in acute exacerbated COPD (AECOPD) and were not indicative of lung cancer. In a different group of patients that were already treated with two cycles of chemotherapy and who responded with at least a 25% reduction in primary tumor diameter, levels of angiogenic markers were lower compared to patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC. We suggest that breath based detection of angiogenic markers may help in the early detection of lung cancer.

Topics: Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breath Tests; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis, Differential; Disease Progression; Feasibility Studies; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important mediator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability. We hypothesized that malignant pleural effusions may contain high levels of VEGF protein as well as other cytokines implicated in these processes. Pleural effusions cytologically proven to be malignant were collected from 39 patients with various types of cancer, and VEGF, interleukin-8, and angiogenin levels in the effusions were determined by immunoassay. Negative controls were nonmalignant ascites and serum samples from healthy individuals. VEGF levels were significantly higher than those of control samples in pleural effusions secondary to breast, mesothelioma, and non-small cell lung cancer and when all malignant pleural effusion samples were pooled. Neither interleukin-8 nor angiogenin levels were elevated in malignant pleural effusions relative to the control samples. Vascular permeability, which was measured by using the Miles assay in nude mice, was increased proportionately with VEGF levels in the malignant pleural effusions; this increase in permeability induced by injection of recombinant VEGF or the malignant effusions was reduced by pretreating the mice with a VEGF receptor antibody.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; Animals; Breast Neoplasms; Capillary Permeability; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Endothelial Growth Factors; Female; Humans; Interleukin-8; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphokines; Lymphoma; Male; Mesothelioma; Mice; Mice, Nude; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Proteins; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Receptors, Growth Factor; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Recombinant Proteins; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic; Sarcoma; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors