The Inter-Relationship between Thrombo-Inflammatory Biomarkers and Cellular Indices of Inflammation in Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients

Introduction: Despite significant advances in treatment modalities, lung cancer continues to account for more than 18% of all cancer-related deaths globally. Although thrombo-inflammatory biomarkers have been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of lung cancer, their true function in the augmentation and propagation of the tumoral microenvironment has yet to be comprehensively profiled. In this context, we aimed to characterize the thrombo-inflammatory biomarkers and blood cellular indices of inflammation in early-stage non-small lung cancer patients relative to healthy controls.

Materials and Methods: Forty-nine NSCLC patient samples were collected from Loyola University Medical Center and compared to those of fifty healthy controls. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemo-attractant protein (MCP)-1, and endothelial growth factor (EGF) were measured utilizing commercially-available ELISA methods. Platelets, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were measured in conjunction with the complete blood profile.

Results: MCP1 and VEGF levels were found to be significantly elevated in NSCLC patients when compared to healthy controls (p<0.001), as seen in Figure 1. Differences between levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, and EGF did not reach statistical significance, as shown in Table 1. Cellular indices of inflammation, such as the platelet-to-hemoglobin, platelet-to-red blood cell, and platelet-to-hematocrit ratios, demonstrated percent changes of -21.4%, 7.2%, and 1.0%, respectively.

Conclusion: NSCLC patients demonstrated a significantly altered thrombo-inflammatory biomarker profile with notable correlations to blood cellular indices.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.