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Kynurenine/Tryptophan Ratio as a Potential Blood-Based Biomarker in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Authors :
Mandarano M
Orecchini E
Bellezza G
Vannucci J
Ludovini V
Baglivo S
Tofanetti FR
Chiari R
Loreti E
Puma F
Sidoni A
Belladonna ML
Source :
International journal of molecular sciences [Int J Mol Sci] 2021 Apr 22; Vol. 22 (9). Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Apr 22.
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

The enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) degrade tryptophan (Trp) into kynurenine (Kyn) at the initial step of an enzymatic pathway affecting T cell proliferation. IDO1 is highly expressed in various cancer types and associated with poor prognosis. Nevertheless, the serum Kyn/Trp concentration ratio has been suggested as a marker of cancer-associated immune suppression. We measured Kyn and Trp in blood samples of a wide cohort of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, before they underwent surgery, and analyzed possible correlations of the Kyn/Trp ratio with either IDO1 expression or clinical-pathological parameters. Low Kyn/Trp significantly correlated with low IDO1 expression and never-smoker patients; while high Kyn/Trp was significantly associated with older (≥68 years) patients, advanced tumor stage, and squamous cell carcinoma (Sqcc), rather than the adenocarcinoma (Adc) histotype. Moreover, high Kyn/Trp was associated, among the Adc group, with higher tumor stages (II and III), and, among the Sqcc group, with a high density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. A trend correlating the high Kyn/Trp ratio with the probability of recurrences from NSCLC was also found. In conclusion, high serum Kyn/Trp ratio, associated with clinical and histopathological parameters, may serve as a serum biomarker to optimize risk stratification and therapy of NSCLC patients.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1422-0067
Volume :
22
Issue :
9
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
International journal of molecular sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
33922388
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094403