Metastin is not involved in metastatic potential of non-small cell lung cancer.

Metastin, the product of the KISS-1 gene, seems to represent a strong suppressant of metastasis for some types of cancer. The aim of this study is to explore whether circulating levels of metastin could be used as a marker for the metastatic potential of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as well as a diagnostic marker in NSCLC patients. The possible correlation between metastin and leptin circulating levels was also evaluated. Fasting serum levels of metastin and leptin were determined in 96 NSCLC patients at diagnosis (76 with metastatic disease and 21 with locally advanced disease) and 49 healthy volunteers using commercial available ELISA. Serum metastin levels presented no differences between NSCLC patients and healthy volunteers (1.18 ± 0.98 vs. 1.17 ± 0.39 ng/ml, P = 0.979) as well as between patients with metastatic and locally advanced disease (1.17 ± 1.05 vs. 1.21 ± 0.64 ng/ml, P = 0.872). There was no statistically significant correlation between circulating metastin and leptin levels in NSCLC patients and patients with locally advanced and metastatic disease. This study shows a lack of direct involvement of metastin in the diagnosis and metastatic potential of NSCLC.

Serum bone turnover markers may be involved in the metastatic potential of lung cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate several bone markers in Non-Small Cell Lung (NSCLC) and Small Cell Lung (SCLC) patients experiencing or not secondary bony disease. Fasting serum levels of bone formation, bone resorption, and osteoclastogenesis markers were determined in 22 NSCLC patients with bone metastases, 18 without bone metastasis, and 28 SCLC patients. A total of 29 healthy volunteers were also included in the study. Decreased osteocalcin (OC) serum levels and increased osteopontin and ligand of the receptor of nuclear factor kB (RANKL) serum levels were detected in NCSLC patients with bone metastases while increased C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen and increased RANKL/OPG (osteoprotegerin) ratio were detected in SCLC patients. Increased serum levels of OPG were observed in all lung cancer patients. OPG may be actively involved in the development of lung cancer metastasis. Furthermore, OC, OPN, and RANKL in NSCLC and CTX and RANKL in SCLC patients may also have a broader role in the pathogenesis and spread of lung cancer. They also provide useful information in identifying the group of patients that may benefit from a more rigorous treatment.

Therapy-induced toxicity of the lungs: an overview.

UNLABELLED: Pulmonary toxicity induced by novel antineoplastic agents has not been well characterized because of the simultaneous or sequential use of drugs and a multimodality therapeutic approach. To further investigate this topic, relevant studies were identified through Medline. The generic names of novel antineoplastic agents and the key words pulmonary toxicity, dyspnea and pneumonitis were used for the search. References from the articles identified were also reviewed for additional sources. Most novel antineoplastic drugs may induce pulmonary toxicity. The most recognized patterns of lung toxicity consist of unspecified dyspnea and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Exclusion diagnosis of possible underlying diseases is necessary. Genetic predisposition, autoimmune conditions or superimposed disease may also be involved in the development of lung toxicity. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of potential pulmonary toxicity as a complication in the treatment of cancer and focus on its early detection or prediction.

Increased serum levels of ghrelin at diagnosis mediate body weight loss in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide implicated in body weight regulation, while cachexia is a multifactorial effect of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presented in patients with advanced disease. The aim of this study was to detect the role of ghrelin in cachexia and systemic inflammation of advanced NSCLC patients as well as its role as a diagnostic and prognostic tool. METHODS: Ghrelin serum levels were measured in 101 inoperable NSCLC patients before receiving any therapy (75 patients with weight loss and 26 without weight loss) and 60 healthy control volunteers. Epidemiological, anthropometrical and laboratory data were assessed for all participants (patients and healthy volunteers). RESULTS: NSCLC patients presented significantly higher ghrelin serum levels than healthy individuals, adjusted for sex, age and BMI (0.5+/-0.4 ng/ml vs. 0.4+/-0.3 ng/ml, P<0.001). NSCLC patients with weight loss presented significantly increased ghrelin serum levels (0.56+/-0.24 ng/ml vs. 0.52+/-0.44 ng/ml, P=0.017), compared to NSCLC patients without weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Ghrelin serum levels are significantly increased in NSCLC patients, mainly in the subgroup of patients diagnosed with cachexia, indicating a possible implication in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Further studies are needed to determine its potential role as predictive and prognostic marker.

The significance of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin serum levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

SUMMARY: Adipose tissue secretes adipokines with proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Our aim was to assess the role of adipose tissue in generalized inflammatory state of advanced NSCLC patients and the possible use of leptin, adiponectin and resistin as diagnostic and prognostic markers. Correlation of adipose tissue with weight loss in advanced NSCLC patients was also studied. Fasting serum levels of leptin, adiponectin and resistin were determined in 101 advanced NSCLC patients (76 without weight loss and 25 with weight loss) and 51 healthy volunteers using commercially available ELISA. Adipokine serum levels were determined at diagnosis, at the end of first-line chemotherapy and at the time of disease progression for those who responded to treatment. Epidemiological, anthropometrical and laboratory data were assessed. Serum leptin and adiponectin levels presented no differences. Serum resistin levels were significantly increased in NSCLC patients after adjustment for age, sex and BMI. Multivariate analysis showed that these adipokines at diagnosis could not be used as predictive factors for overall survival or time to progression. Only serum resistin levels were associated with weight loss. Despite no direct involvement of leptin and adiponectin, resistin as a proinflammatory cytokine may play a role in the pathogenesis of weight loss in NSCLC patients.