Circulating thrombomodulin during radiation therapy of lung cancer.
The endothelial cell glycoprotein, thrombomodulin (TM), is an important physiological anticoagulant. TM is downregulated and released from the cell membrane into the circulation by ionizing radiation and during inflammation. The present study measured plasma TM in 17 patients before, during, and after radiation therapy of lung cancer: nine patients developed radiation pneumonitis, whereas eight matched patients did not. Plasma TM did not change significantly in patients who developed radiation pneumonitis. In contrast, patients who did not develop pneumonitis exhibited a moderate, but statistically significant, decrease in plasma TM antigen during the initial 1-2 weeks, with complete normalization towards the end of treatment. Our study suggests that decreased release of TM during the early phase of radiation therapy may be associated with reduced pulmonary toxicity. The use of plasma TM as a marker of pulmonary toxicity needs further study.
Hauer-Jensen
M
M
Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, USA. mhjensen@life.uams.edu
Kong
F M
FM
Fink
L M
LM
Anscher
M S
MS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D018180:Thrombomodulin