Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha and Oxidative Stress in the Breath Condensate of Those with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Enoch Chan, Thevaki Sivagnanam, Qi Zhang, Craig R. Lewis, Paul S. Thomas

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia.
Inflammation and Infection Research Centre and Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

DOI: 10.4236/jct.2012.324059                

Abstract

Background and Aims: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide and is associated with the release of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), subsequent cellular apoptosis and the generation of oxidative stress. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) analysis is a non-invasive method for sampling biofluids from the lower respiratory tract. This study aimed to evaluate possible biomarkers of lung cancer by measuring the levels of TNF-α and the oxidation of ascorbic acid in EBC. Patients with lung cancer were enrolled into the study prior to treatment, during treatment and post-treatment, and results compared with an age-matched control population. Material and Methods: Patients with Stage II-IV non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were recruited prior to and at stages of their treatment. EBC levels of TNF-α, and rate of ascorbic acid oxidation were measured. Results: A total of 19 patients with NSCLC (mean age 71.37 ± 7.77 yrs) and 25 age-matched control subjects were enrolled. Levels of EBC TNF-α were elevated in the EBC of patients with lung cancer compared with control subjects (1.02 ± 0.07 pg/ml vs. 0.51 ± 0.06 pg/ml, p < 0.0001). Moreover, the rate of ascorbic acid oxidation was significantly greater in the EBC of patients with lung cancer compared with control subjects (2.20% [0.4 – 11.0] vs. 1.00% [0.1 – 8.5], p = 0.0244). Conclusion: TNF-α and the rate of ascorbic acid oxidation was elevated in the EBC of patients with lung cancer regardless of treatment. Longitudinal studies in a larger population are required to evaluate these markers for the effect of treatment and prognosis.

Keywords

Exhaled Breath Condensate; Lung Cancer; Ascorbic Acid Oxidation; Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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