Abstract
Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional glycoprotein associated with lung cancer (LC) via several pathways including tumour angiogenesis.
Aims and objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate possible associations between serum levels of OPN in patients with LC and clinicopathological variables, VEGF and MMP-9 levels and overall survival.
Methods: We enrolled 51 patients (mean age 66±8.8 years) with primary LC and 30 healthy control subjects. 43 patients were ever smokers and 8 non-smokers, 12 patients had SCLC and 39 NSCLC (18 squamous, 16 adenocarcinoma and 5 NSCLC-NOS) with stage I-II/4, III/18, IV/29. Serum levels of OPN, VEGF and MMP-9 were measured by ELISA.
Results: Patients with LC had statistically significantly higher serum OPN levels than controls (45.9[10.5-266.8] vs 16[6.8-29.8] ng/ml, p<0.0001). ROC analysis showed that for OPN levels >23.8 ng/ml, sensitivity for detection of LC was 80.4% and specificity was 86.7%. OPN levels were also found higher in smokers (p=0.019) and in older patients (p=0.026). Moreover, patients with squamous LC had statistically significantly higher OPN levels compared to patients with adenocarcinoma. Additionally, patients with serum OPN levels lower than median value (<45.9 ng/ml) had significantly better overall survival than those with higher levels (524 days vs. 306 days, p=0.01) and a 1-year survival rate of 80% vs. 37%. Finally, OPN levels were positively associated with VEGF levels (r=0.44, p=0.001).
Conclusions: OPN levels were increased in patients with LC, and higher levels were correlated with worse survival, therefore suggesting a possible diagnostic and prognostic value of OPN in patients with LC.
- © 2012 ERS
