Evaluation of the relationship between serum ghrelin levels and cancer cachexia in patients with locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy

Background: Ghrelin plays a role in mechanisms related to cancer progression – including cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and resistance to apoptosis in the cell lines from several cancers. We investigated the role of ghrelin levels in cancer cachexia-anorexia in patients with locally advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Materials and Methods: This study involved 84 NSCLC patients who had received concomitant CRT. Blood ghrelin levels were compared before and 3 months after CRT. Meanwhile, changes in body weight of the patients were also investigated with changes in ghrelin levels before and after CRT. Results: Ghrelin levels were significantly decreased in line with changes in patients' weights in patients receiving CRT (P < 0.001). Serum albumin levels and inflammatory-nutritional index were significantly decreased after radiotherapy (RT) (3.01 ± 0.40 g/dL, 0.38 ± 0.20) when compared with its baseline levels (3.40 ± 0.55 g/dL,P < 0.001; 0.86 ± 0.71,P < 0.001, respectively). Serum C-reactive protein levels were significantly increased after CRT (7.49 ± 6.53 mg/L) when compared with its baseline levels (9.54 ± 3.80 mg/L,P = 0.038). After RT, ghrelin levels in patients were positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.830,P < 0.001) and albumin (r = 0.758,P < 0.001). Conclusion: Ghrelin may play a role in the pathogenesis of weight loss in NSCLC patients. Ghrelin seems to be implicated in cancer-related weight loss. Ghrelin, cancer, and RT all together have a role in tumor-related anorexia-cachexia in patients with NSCLC. Results of this study need further evaluation as regards to its potential role as an adjuvant diagnostic or prognostic marker

HIF-1α Levels in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma

SUMMARY AIM To examine the relationship between treatment response and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) levels in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received chemoradiotherapy (CRT). METHODS Eighty patients with NSCLC were included in the study and treated at Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Medical Faculty. HIF-1 α levels were measured before and after CRT by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS Patients' stages were as follows; stage IIIA (65%) and stage IIIB (35%). Squamous histology was 45%, adenocarcinoma was 44%, and others were 11%. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were given concurrently to 80 patients. Forty-five (56%) patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and 35 (44%) received carboplatin-based chemotherapy. Serum HIF-1α levels (42.90 ± 10.55 pg/mL) after CRT were significantly lower than the pretreatment levels (63.10 ± 10.22 pg/mL, p<0.001) in patients with locally advanced NSCLC. CONCLUSION The results of this study revealed that serum HIF-1α levels decreased after CRT. Decrease of HIF-1α levels after the initiation of CRT may be useful for predicting the efficacy of CRT.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Examinar a relação entre a resposta ao tratamento e os níveis de fator 1 induzida por hipóxia (HIF-1α) em pacientes com câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas localmente avançado (NSCLC) que receberam quimiorradioterapia (CRT). MÉTODO Oitenta pacientes com NSCLC foram incluídos no estudo e foram tratados na Faculdade de Medicina da Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University. O nível de HIF-1α foi medido antes e depois da TRC pelo método de ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA). RESULTADOS Os estágios dos pacientes foram os seguintes; estágio IIIA (65%) e estágio IIIB (35%). A histologia escamosa foi de 45%, o adenocarcinoma de 44% e o outro de 11%. Quimioterapia e radioterapia foram dadas simultaneamente a 80 pacientes. Quarenta e cinco (56%) pacientes receberam quimioterapia à base de cisplatina e 35 (44%) receberam quimioterapia à base de carboplatina. Os níveis séricos de HIF-1α (42,90 ± 10,55 pg / mL) após a TRC foram significativamente menores do que os níveis pré-tratamento (63,10 ± 10,22 pg / mL, p <0,001) em pacientes com NSCLC localmente avançado. CONCLUSÃO Os resultados deste estudo revelaram que os níveis séricos de HIF-1α diminuíram após a TRC. A diminuição dos níveis de HIF-1α após o início da TRC pode ser útil para prever a eficácia da TRC.

Characteristics of Active Tuberculosis Patients Requiring Intensive Care Monitoring and Factors Affecting Mortality / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: One to three percent of cases of acute tuberculosis (TB) require monitoring in the intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of this study is to establish and determine the mortality rate and discuss the causes of high mortality in these cases, and to evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings of TB patients admitted to the pulmonary ICU. METHODS: The data of patients admitted to the ICU of Yedikule Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Education and Research Hospital due to active TB were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic characteristics, medical history, and clinical and laboratory findings were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-five TB patients (27 males) with a median age of 47 years were included, of whom 20 died within 30 days (57%). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were significantly higher, and albumin and PaO2/FIO2 levels were significantly lower, and shock, multiple organ failure, the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and drug resistance were more common in the patients who died. The mortality risk was 7.58 times higher in the patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. The SOFA score alone was a significant risk factor affecting survival. CONCLUSION: The survival rate is low in cases of tuberculosis treated in an ICU. The predictors of mortality include the requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation and multiple organ failure. Another factor specific to TB patients is the presence of drug resistance, which should be taken seriously in countries where there is a high incidence of the disease. Finding new variables that can be established with new prospective studies may help to decrease the high mortality rate.