Diagnostic value of pleural interleukin 17 and carcinoembryonic antigen in lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusions.
Interleukin 17 (IL-17) has been found to be increased in some human cancers; however, the possible implication of IL-17 in regulating antitumor responses in lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusions (MPE) remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of pleural IL-17 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in MPE and benign pleural effusions (BPE). Pleural effusion samples from 108 patients were classified on the basis of diagnosis as MPE (n = 56) and BPE (n = 52). The concentration of IL-17 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CEA levels were also determined in all patients. A significant difference was observed in the levels of CEA (P < 0.01) between MPE and BPE. The concentration of IL-17 in MPE was significantly higher compared to that in BPE (P < 0.01). With a cutoff point of 15.7 pg/ml, IL-17 had a sensitivity of 76.8 % and a specificity of 80.8 % for differential diagnosis. The combined detection of IL-17 and CEA had a sensitivity of 96.4 % and a specificity of 92.3 % to distinguish MPE from BPE. The combined detection of IL-17 and CEA may be more valuable in the differential diagnosis between MPE and BPE.
First Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nanjing Chest Hospital, 215 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Chun-Hua
CH
Xu
Ping
P
Zhan
Li-Ke
LK
Yu
Xiu-Wei
XW
Zhang
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D020381:Interleukin-17