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Unlabelled: THE AIM of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of determination of soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble Fas Ligand (sFasL) during chemotherapy of lung cancer., Methods: The study included 80 patients (69 males; 11 females; mean age 64 years; 48 with non-small cell lung cancer-NSCLC, 32 with small cell lung cancer-SCLC). The control group consisted of 15 healthy volunteers. The peripheral blood samples were taken before and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy. sFas and sFasL levels were assessed by Elisa method., Results: The serum sFas and sFasL levels observed at the end of the chemotherapy were higher in all patients with lung cancer compared to healthy volunteers. The levels of sFas and sFasL were higher after chemotherapy than before therapy. The levels of sFasL were significantly higher in SCLC patients than in NSCLC ones. There were no significant differences in serum sFasL levels in relation to clinical stage of lung cancer. After chemotherapy the levels of sFas were higher in patients with metastases. There were no significant differences in serum sFasL levels in relation to response to therapy. At the end of the therapy the serum levels of sFas were higher in Partial Response group than in Progressed patients. Before chemotherapy the levels of sFas were higher in Progressive Disease group than in No Change one. The levels of sFas observed after chemotherapy were higher in Partial Response group than in No Change one., Conclusion: Determination of serum sFas and sFasL levels can be useful in clinical practice, but their practical significance needs further studies.

The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor C and D (VEGF-C, VEGF-D) and soluble VEGF receptor 2 (sVEGFR-2) in patients with lung cancer during chemotherapy. The study included 80 patients (64 men and 16 women; mean age 61.1) diagnosed histologically with lung cancer. Forty-four (55%) had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 36 (45%) had small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Squamous cell carcinoma was established in 56% (25 patients) of all patients with NSCLC, adenocarcinoma in 20% (9 patients), and non-small cell lung cancer in 23% (10 patients). The control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers. Peripheral blood samples were taken before and after four cycles of chemotherapy. VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and sVEGFR-2 levels were assessed by ELISA method. Serum levels of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were significantly higher in both NSCLC and SCLC groups in comparison with controls. VEGF-C concentration decreased after chemotherapy, whereas VEGF-D concentration was at the same level. No correlation was found between VEGF-C and VEGF-D concentrations and the effect of treatment. Patients with lung cancer and progression after chemotherapy (PD) had the higher concentration of sVEGFR-2 than patients with partial remission (PR). The levels of sVEGFR-2 were lower before and after treatment than in controls. No relation was found between VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and sVEGFR-2 concentrations and the histological type and staging of lung cancer. Summing up, serum concentrations of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were higher in patients with lung cancer both before and after chemotherapy than in healthy controls, whereas sVEGFR-2 concentration was lower than in healthy controls. An increase in concentration of sVEGFR-2 during chemotherapy may suggest progression of the disease. However, it requires further examination.

The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGFBP-3) in patients with lung cancer during chemotherapy. The study included 38 patients (33 males and 5 females; mean age 59.8) diagnosed histologically with lung cancer. Twenty-five patients (65%) had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 13 patients (35%) had small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Squamous cell carcinoma was established in 30% (11 patients) of all patients with NSCLC, adenocarcinoma in 13% (5 patients), and non-small cell cancer in 36% (9 patients). The control group consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. Peripheral blood samples were taken before and after four cycles of chemotherapy. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were assessed by ELISA method. Serum levels of IGF-I measured before chemotherapy were significantly higher in both NSCLC and SCLC groups in comparison with controls. No significant differences were observed in serum IGF-I levels before and after four cycles of chemotherapy. The levels were still high after chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC and SCLC. Serum levels of IGFBP-3 were markedly lower in patients with NSCLC both before and after treatment compared to controls. No significant differences were found in patients with NSCLC before and after cytoreduction treatment. Prior to treatment, serum IGFBP-3 levels were significantly lower in patients with SCLC in comparison with controls. After cytoreduction treatment, the levels were decreased when compared to controls but without statistical significance. In conclusion, both before and after chemotherapy serum levels of IGF-I were significantly higher, whereas IGFBP-3 levels were lower in patients with NSCLC and SCLC compared to controls. Chemotherapy had no influence on the serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. Neither a histological type of NSCLC nor clinical staging had any effect on the serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3.

Unlabelled: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum endostatin levels during chemotherapy of lung cancer in relation to the histopathological type of the tumor, clinical stage and response to therapy., Materials and Methods: Serum concentrations of endostatin were determined in 37 patients (24 with non-small cell lung cancer and 13 with small cell lung cancer), 10 healthy subjects constituted controls. To determine endostatin levels (ELISA), venous blood samples were collected from each patient before treatment and after 4-6 courses of chemotherapy., Results: The serum concentrations of endostatin were found significantly higher in patients in comparison with controls (p=0.003). No statistically significant differences were established between the concentrations of endostatin with regard to such clinical features, as: performance status, clinical stage (III and IV) and histopathological type (non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer). The concentrations of endostatin did not change after chemotherapy. There was no change of endostatin concentration caused by the response to treatment., Conclusions: The serum endostatin concentrations were elevated in lung cancer patients.

Lung cancer (NSCLC and SCLC) is one of most frequent carcinoma. Lung cancer is at the top of the list of cancers causing mortality in males. Many patients are qualified to chemotherapy which causes neutropenia. The aim of this work was to evaluate the number and function of (phagocytosis, test of NBT reduction and MPO activity) of leukocytes in patients with lung cancer before chemotherapy, during leukopenia and after stimulation with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Patients with lung cancer have increased number of leukocytes before the treatment. After chemotherapy the number of leukocytes decreases. Treatment with G-CSF increases the number of leukocytes but it doesn't increase their ability to phagocytosis and to NBT reduction.

Unlabelled: The AIM of this study was to assess the influence of chemotherapy on the serum levels of IGF-I and IGF-II in patients with lung cancer., Methods: The study included 38 patients (33 males and 5 females) at mean age of 59.8, diagnosed histologically with lung cancer. Twenty five patients had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) including 11 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 5 patients with adenocarcinoma and 9 patients without an essential histological type of NSCLC. A total of 13 patients had small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The control group consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. The peripheral blood samples were taken before and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy. IGF-I and IGF-II levels were assessed by ELISA method., Results: Serum levels of IGF-I and IGF-II measured before chemotherapy were significantly higher in both NSCLC and SCLC groups in comparison with controls. There were no significant differences of serum levels of both growth factors before and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Serum levels of IGF-I and IGF-II were still high after chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC and SCLC. Patients with SCC and adenocarcinoma had similar serum levels of IGF-I and IGF-II without statistical differences., Conclusion: Serum levels of IGF-I and IGF-II were significantly higher in patients with NSCLC and SCLC before chemotherapy than in controls. Chemotherapy had no influence on the serum levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). Serum levels of IGF-I and IGF-II did not depend on a histological type of NSCLC either.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. This process is caused by the imbalance between stimulating and inhibiting agents. VEGF is a key stimulator having a biologic effect via two different receptors of tyrosine kinase: VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2. A soluble form of sVEGF-R1 is a negative regulator of VEGF activity. The serum concentrations of VEGF, sVEGF-R1 were assayed in 24 patients with NSCLC and 13 patients with SCLC and 10 healthy volunteers by means of ELISA method. The serum concentrations of VEGF were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p=0.016). The concentration of sVEGF-R1 was not significantly different in patients and controls. No statistically significant differences were established between the concentrations of VEGF, and sVEGF-R1 with regard to such clinical features, as: performance staging, clinical staging (stage III vs. stage IV) and histological pattern (NSCLC vs. SCLC). The significantly higher VEGF concentrations were reported in patients with the tumor of more than 7.5 cm in the diameter (p=0.027). Analyzing the influence of the response to treatment on the concentrations of parameters examined, a significant increase in VEGF concentration was demonstrated in the case of disease progression (p=0.034). The concentrations of sVEGF-R1 did not change after treatment. No correlation was found between parameters examined.

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical usefulness of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) during chemotherapy of lung cancer in relation to the histological type of the tumor, clinical stage, response to therapy and time survival., Material and Methods: Serum levels of IL-18 and sIL-2R were determined in 73 patients (62 males; mean age 64 years; 41 with non-small cell lung cancer-NSCLC, 32 with small cell lung cancer-SCLC); 12 healthy subjects served as controls. To determine IL-18 serum concentrations (Elisa), venous blood samples were collected from each patient before and after chemotherapy., Results: The mean serum IL-18 level in all patients with lung cancer was significantly higher compared with healthy volunteers (p = 0.0001; NSCLC vs control p = 0.0001; SCLC vs control p = 0.004). In NSCLC group with stage IV the mean IL-18 level was significantly higher than those with stage IIIB (p = 0.04). Regarding tumor stage and response to therapy, no significant differences in IL-18 were observed. Using cut-off serum IL-18 concentration of 319.6 pg/ml, the prognoses of the two groups were different, but it was not statistically significant. The serum levels of sIL-2R in NSCLC patients were significantly higher than in controls (p = 0.018). There were no significant differences in serum sIL-2R levels in relation to clinical stage of lung cancer and response to therapy. The cut-off value between high and low serum sIL-2R concentration was defined as 582.27 U/ml. The difference in survival rate between the high and low sIL-2R groups was not significant., Conclusions: Serum IL-18 and sIL-2R levels can be useful in clinical practice, but their practical significance needs further studies.