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Evaluation of serum KL-6 as a predictive marker of radiation pneumonitis in patients with breast-conservation therapy.
- Source :
-
International journal of clinical oncology [Int J Clin Oncol] 2004 Dec; Vol. 9 (6), pp. 498-502. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Background: Although radiation pneumonitis in radiotherapy following breast-conservation surgery is rare, it may lead to severe pneumonitis as well as to other types of pulmonary dysfunction. This study examined the usefulness of the serum KL-6 level as a new marker for the early detection of radiation pneumonitis.<br />Methods: Twenty-nine consenting patients served as subjects (age range, 32-78 years; mean age, 51 years) between 2001 and 2002. A total tangential irradiation dose of 50 Gy/25 fractions (fr) was administered for 5 weeks, using a 4-MV X-ray, and an additional 10 Gy/5 fr for 1 week of 6-MeV electron-beam irradiation was performed for patients with pathological tumor cell findings in the excised tumor margins. Levels of serum KL-6 were measured before and after radiotherapy.<br />Results: Four patients developed radiation pneumonitis, all of whom had elevated post-therapy KL-6 levels. Patients with lower or unchanged KL-6 levels did not develop radiation pneumonitis. There was a significant difference in serum KL-6 levels between patients with and without radiation pneumonitis (P = 0.0421). KL-6 levels remained below the threshold value of 465 U/ml in all patients.<br />Conclusion: For the early detection of radiation pneumonitis following breast-conservation surgery, and to assess the efficacy of therapy, the monitoring and measuring of changes in KL-6 levels before and after radiotherapy is more important than comparing KL-6 levels against the threshold value. Measuring KL-6 serum levels is also useful in assessing the efficacy of therapy for radiation pneumonitis.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1341-9625
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- International journal of clinical oncology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15616881
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-004-0438-9