Serum endostatin levels in patients with lung carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: 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.