title: VEGF and IL-18 in induced sputum of lung cancer patients.
abstract: Cytokines are key players in the biological processes of malignant tumors and special interest has been focused on cytokines exerting tumor and anti-tumor properties, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Interleukin-18 (IL-18). Aim of this study was to assess IL-18 and VEGF levels in induced sputum of lung cancer patients at diagnosis, and assess their possible association with the histological type of cancer, the stage and the overall patient survival. Seventy six patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer were recruited and were followed up for 48months. Thirteen healthy smokers and 16 healthy non-smokers were used as control groups. VEGF and IL-18 were measured by ELISA in sputum supernatants at the time of diagnosis. Lung cancer patients had significantly higher baseline IL-18 and VEGF levels compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). No difference was found in IL-18 and VEGF levels between the various stages in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and between limited and extended small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, the ratio of VEGF/IL-18 was significantly higher in NSCLC compared to SCLC patients (p=0.018). In extended SCLC overall survival was inversely associated with baseline sputum VEGF levels (p=0.034) and estimated mortality risk was 1.14 (95% CI 1.006-1.283) for an increase of 100pg/ml in VEGF levels. Such association was not found regarding baseline IL-18 levels. VEGF levels in induced sputum may have a prognostic role in the survival of SCLC. The ratio VEGF/IL-18 in induced sputum differs between NSCLC and SCLC, indicating differences in angiogenesis mechanisms and/or immunological response in these two major histological types of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pulmonary Medicine, "Sotiria" Hospital, Athens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. nikrovina@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rovina
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hillas
authors.forename: Efrossini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dima
authors.forename: Fotis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vlastos
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loukides
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veldekis
authors.forename: Charis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roussos
authors.forename: Manos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alhanatis
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bakakos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A