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Prognostic value of circulating chromogranin A and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer
Author(s) -
Gregorc Vanesa,
Spreafico Anna,
Floriani Irene,
Colombo Barbara,
Ludovini Vienna,
Pistola Lorenza,
Bellezza Guido,
Viganò Maria Grazia,
Villa Eugenio,
Corti Angelo
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.22856
Subject(s) - chromogranin a , medicine , immunohistochemistry , neuroendocrine tumors , tumor necrosis factor alpha , receptor , neuroendocrine differentiation , lung cancer , lung , cancer , gastroenterology , pathology , endocrinology , prostate cancer
BACKGROUND. Increased levels of chromogranin A (CgA), a protein secreted by many neuroendocrine cells, have been detected in sera of patients with neuroendocrine tumors or renal, hepatic, or heart failure. In patients with heart failure, serum CgA correlates with tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF) and soluble TNF receptors (sTNF‐Rs), with important prognostic implications. The prognostic value of CgA and sTNF‐Rs was investigated in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a histologically heterogeneous group of tumors that may undergo neuroendocrine differentiation. METHODS. CgA and sTNF‐Rs were analyzed in the sera of 88 patients with NSCLC before chemotherapy by enzyme‐linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) and in tumors by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS. Thirteen percent of patients had CgA values greater than the highest value observed in normal subjects (distribution range, 9–724 ng/mL and 28–196 ng/mL, respectively). Immunohistochemical studies showed no correlation between CgA expression in tumors and serum levels. Conversely, circulating CgA was associated with worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) ( P = .0005), more advanced stage ( P = .042), and survival, with CgA being an independent prognostic factor of poor outcome (hazards ratio [HR] 1.31 for 100 ng/mL increase; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.08–1.60 [ P = .0071]). sTNF‐R1 and sTNF‐R2 were also associated with ECOG PS ( P = .0001 and P = .02, respectively). sTNF‐Rs was weakly correlated with circulating CgA ( r = 0.39 for TNF‐R1 and r = 0.40 for TNF‐R2), suggesting a regulatory link between sTNF‐Rs and CgA secretion. CONCLUSIONS. Increased serum levels of CgA in NSCLC are independent from protein expression in tumors and more likely related to neuroendocrine response associated with worsening of patient condition. In addition to ECOG PS and stage, CgA is an independent indicator of poor prognosis. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.