Serum von Willebrand factor for early diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The elevation of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) has been proposed to be a predictor of lung cancer. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes endothelial activation, resulting in the secretion of vWF. However, the role of vWF in patients with T2DM complicated with lung cancer remains unclear. AIM: To investigate the clinical value of serum vWF as a tumor marker in patients with T2DM combined with lung adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). METHODS: This study enrolled 43 patients with T2DM combined with lung AIS (T2DM + AIS group), 43 patients with T2DM alone (T2DM group), 43 patients with lung AIS alone (AIS group), and 43 healthy volunteers (control group). The serum levels of vWF, insulin-like growth factor 1, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 were determined. Multiple linear stepwise regression was performed to determine the correlations among variables. RESULTS: Serum concentration of vWF in the T2DM + AIS group was significantly higher than those in the T2DM, AIS, and control groups (P < 0.05). Serum vWF levels in the T2DM and AIS groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum vWF level between the T2DM and AIS groups. In the T2DM + AIS group, serum vWF was independently associated and positively correlated with serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum vWF level may represent a novel biomarker for the early diagnosis of lung AIS.