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. 2015 May 19:8:1129-36.
doi: 10.2147/OTT.S79433. eCollection 2015.

Transforming growth factor-beta-1 is a serum biomarker of radiation-induced pneumonitis in esophageal cancer patients treated with thoracic radiotherapy: preliminary results of a prospective study

Jingxia Li  1 , Shuangfeng Mu  1 , Lixiang Mu  1 , Xiaohui Zhang  1 , Ranran Pang  1 , Shegan Gao  2
Affiliations

Transforming growth factor-beta-1 is a serum biomarker of radiation-induced pneumonitis in esophageal cancer patients treated with thoracic radiotherapy: preliminary results of a prospective study

Jingxia Li et al. Onco Targets Ther. .

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between cytokine levels of transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-β1), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the plasma of esophageal carcinoma patients and radiation-induced pneumonitis (RP).

Materials and methods: Sixty-three patients with esophageal carcinoma were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (RT) using the Elekta Precise treatment planning system with a prescribed dose of 50-70 Gy. Dose-volume histograms were collected from three-dimensional conformal RT to determine the volume percentage of the lung received V5, V10, V20, and the normal tissue complication probability. RP was diagnosed based on computed tomography imaging, respiratory symptoms, and signs. The severity of radiation-induced lung toxicity was determined using the Lent-Soma scale defined by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Plasma samples obtained before RT, during RT (at 40 Gy), and at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after RT were assayed for TGF-β1, IL-1β, and ACE levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: From the 63 patients, 17 (27%) developed RP, and 13 (21%) had RP of grade I and four (6%) had grade II or higher. We found plasma TGF-β1 levels were elevated in the patients that had RP when compared with the other 46 patients who did not have RP. The plasma IL-1β levels were not changed. The ACE levels were significantly lower in the 17 patients with RP compared to the 46 patients without RP throughout the RT. As expected, RP is associated with a higher dose of irradiation (>60 Gy); no other factors, including dose-volume histogram, age, sex, smoking status, location of tumor, and methods of treatment, are associated with RP.

Conclusion: Elevated plasma TGF-β1 levels can be used as a marker for RP.

Keywords: ACE; IL-1β; TGF-β1; esophageal carcinoma; radiation-induced pneumonitis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in TGF-β1 between the RP group and NRP group. Notes: This image indicates that the cytokine level was 37.77±9.67 pg/mL in RP and 42.13±10.49 pg/mL in NRP before RT. With increasing RT times, the difference between the two groups is readily discernible at the radiation dose of 40 Gy (P=0.00). At the same time, the levels of TGF-β1 were significantly higher than before radiotherapy in the RP group. However, in the NRP group, when compared with before RT, changes in TGF-β1 levels were not statistically significant at each time point of RT (P=0.131; 0.187; 0.317; 0.092). ***Pμ0.01. Abbreviations: TGF-β1, transforming growth factor-beta-1; RT, radiotherapy; RP, radiation-induced pneumonitis; NRP, non-radiation-induced pneumonitis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in IL-1β between the RP group and NRP group. Abbreviations: IL-1β, interleukin-1 beta; RT, radiotherapy; RP, radiation-induced pneumonitis; NRP, non-radiation-induced pneumonitis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in ACE between the RP group and NRP group. Notes: The ACE levels lowered significantly in the RP group before RT (P=0.00). With the passage of time and RT, the levels of ACE tended to decrease in the RP and NRP groups, but when compared with before RT, the changes in ACE levels were not statistically significant at each time point of RT. ***Pμ0.01. Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; RT, radiotherapy; RP, radiation-induced pneumonitis; NRP, non-radiation-induced pneumonitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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