Serum endostatin levels in patients with lung carcinoma

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.

[Allergic broncho-pulmonary tuberculosis--a case without bronchial asthma]

Aspergillus fumigatus can cause a number of lung diseases. One of them is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) characterized by pulmonary eozynophilia, asthma, an allergic type of immune response in the bronchi and proximal bronchiectases. ABPA was recognised in 28-years old man (round shadows in the lung, obturated bronchus with mucoid impaction, positive skin tests with aspergillin and presence of precipitins to Aspergillus fumigatus, elevated serum IgE level). Patient was treated for 6 months with corticosteroids. After 2 years of regression there was an exacerbation of ABPA was recognised. The steroid therapy was repeated.