Changes and implications of interleukin-17 and vascular endothelial growth factor in serum and exhaled breath con-densate in non-small cell lung cancer

ZHU Jie; HE Haiyan; MA Hang; LV Xuedong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1671-6450.2015.08.004

Abstract：Objective To observe interleukin 17 (IL-17) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum and exhaled breath condensate( EBC) in non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) ,and it role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Methods Collected 39 NSCLC patients as NSCLC group, 20 cases of healthy subjects as healthy control group, collected fasting serum and EBC specimens, using ELISA method for the detection of serum and EBC IL-17 and VEGF levels, and cor-relation analysis were performed. Results (1) In the NSCLC group, the serum levels of IL-17 and VEGF levels were (27. 34 ± 8. 12) pg/ml and (42. 72 ± 7. 69) pg/ml,which were significantly higher than those in healthy control group of the IL-7:(16. 23 ± 4. 22) pg/ml, VEGF:(24. 64 ± 5. 17) pg/ml ( P <0. 01). (2) The NSCLC group, in EBC, IL-17 concentration and VEGF concentration were (5. 96 ± 1. 51) pg/ml and (22. 73 ± 4. 26) pg/ml respectively, which were higher than in the healthy control group’s (1. 96 ± 0. 49) pg/ml, (13. 31 ± 4. 61) pg/ml ( P <0. 01). (3) NSCLC’s EBC in the peripheral blood, IL-17 and VEGF levels were increased along with clinical stage progress increased ( P <0. 01). (4) In NSCLC, ser-um IL-17 levels and VEGF levels were positively correlated ( r =0. 594, P < 0. 01), EBC IL-17 levels and VEGF was also positively correlated ( r =0. 704, P =0. 000). The serum level of VEGF and IL-17 was positively correlated with clinical stage( r =0. 811, r =0. 722, P <0. 01). IL-17, VEGF level and clinical stage was positively correlated to EBC ( r =0. 843, r =0. 789, P <0. 01). Conclusion IL-17 participates in the pathogenesis of NSCLC. It may promote VEGF expres-sion to further promote tumor growth. EBC IL-17 level can be used as a noninvasive index for monitoring the disease condition of NSCLC.