Open AccessIncrease in circulating endothelial progenitor cells predicts response in patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Author(s) -
Sakamori Yuichi,
Masago Katsuhiro,
Ohmori Katsuyuki,
Togashi Yosuke,
Nagai Hiroki,
Okuda Chiyuki,
Kim Young Hak,
Ichiyama Satoshi,
Mishima Michiaki
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2012.02249.x
Subject(s) - chemotherapy , medicine , lung cancer , oncology , progenitor cell , cytotoxic t cell , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , clinical significance , immunology , stem cell , biology , biochemistry , in vitro , genetics
Previous reports have shown that circulating endothelial progenitor cells ( CEP s) are released in response to cytotoxic chemotherapy. We investigate the relationship between the kinetics of CEP s during one cycle of chemotherapy and the response to cytotoxic chemotherapy and prognostic impacts. Previously untreated patients ( n = 38) receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy for non‐small‐cell lung cancer were included. Blood sampling was carried out on day 1, day 8, and just before the second cycle of chemotherapy. The mononuclear cell fraction was analyzed for CEP s by FACS analysis. We evaluated the relationship between the kinetics of CEP s, each independent clinicopathological variable, the response to chemotherapy, and the risk factors associated with prognosis. On the eighth day after chemotherapy, a significant decrease in CEP s was observed. In contrast, CEP counts before the second cycle of chemotherapy were significantly increased. The high percentage change in CEP s between day 1 and before the second cycle of chemotherapy is an independent predictive factor for response to chemotherapy. However, the change in CEP levels did not predict progression‐free survival. These findings indicate that the late release of CEP s is a common phenomenon after chemotherapeutic treatment. The correlation with clinical response to chemotherapy provides further support for the biologic relevance of these cells in patients' prognosis and highlights the potential use of CEP s as therapeutic targets. ( Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 1065–1070)