Evaluation of inflammatory cytokines in malignant and benign pleural effusions

We measured the levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in pleural effusions and serum in 65 consecutive patients: 32 with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) (group A), and 33 with inflammatory benign pleural effusion (BPE) (group B). Serum levels of 15 healthy individuals served as control. Concentrations of IL-1alpha were higher in serum compared to pleural fluid in both groups (47.1+/-33.9 vs. 25.9+/-1.7 fmol/ml, p<0.001, in group A; and 39.9+/-30.9 vs. 25.4+/-16.3 fmol/ml, p<0.02, in group B). Similarly, concentrations of IL-1beta and IL-2 were significantly higher in serum compared to pleural fluid in both groups. In contrast, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were found at high concentration in MPE in comparison to serum IL-6: 171.8+/-60.4 vs. 7. 2+/-7 fmol/ml (p<0.001), IL-8: 1175.15+/-2385.6 vs. 285.2+/-187.2 pg/ml (p<0.05), TNF-alpha: 204.9+/-82.9 vs. 79.4+/-31.9 fmol/ml (p<0. 001). Similarly, pleural concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were higher in BPE patients in comparison to serum IL-6: 124.3+/-56. 2 vs. 8.6+/-6.4 fmol/ml (p<0.001) IL-8: 2109.2+/-4121.5 vs. 291. 6+/-197.9 pg/ml (p<0.02), TNF-alpha: 183.8+/-28.2 vs. 86.2+/-23.9 fmol/ml (p<0.001). These data suggest that IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha might be secreted locally at the site of active disease both in benign and malignant pleural effusions.     

Evaluation of pleural fluid human epididymis 4 (HE4) as a marker of malignant pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is a commonly encountered problem in clinical practice, and pleural fluid analysis is usually the first step towards identifying the underlying etiology. Numerous studies have been published analyzing the potential utility of measuring biomarkers in pleural fluid as possible indicators of a malignant effusion; however, there are no studies that have examined the presence of human epididymis 4 (HE4) in pleural effusions. The aims of this study were to assess pleural effusion and serum concentrations of HE4 in patients with different types of pleural effusions and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of HE4 in detecting malignant pleural effusion. A prospective cohort study was carried out of 88 consecutive patients presenting with pleural effusions. The patients were divided into three groups: 22 patients with transudative effusions, 32 patients with non-malignant exudative effusions, and 34 patients with malignant pleural effusions. Blood and pleural fluid HE4 levels were measured using immunoassay. Both serum HE4 levels and pleural effusion HE4 levels were significantly higher in patients with malignant effusions than in patients with transudative or non-malignant exudative effusions. A pleural fluid HE4 cutoff value of 1,675?pmol/L was found to predict malignant pleural effusions with a diagnostic sensitivity of 85.3?% and specificity of 90.7?%. The current study reports a novel finding of increased serum and pleural fluid HE4 levels in patients with malignant effusions compared to non-malignant effusions. This finding has the potential to strengthen the diagnostic performance of tumor markers in detecting malignant pleural effusions.     

顺铂联合白细胞介素-2治疗恶性胸腔积液的研究

目的观察胸腔内注入顺铂与白细胞介素-2治疗恶性胸腔积液的有效性和安全性。方法60例恶性胸腔积液患者的治疗用顺铂联合白细胞介素-2(A组)23例,单用顺铂(B组)19例, 单用白细胞介素-2(C组)18例。用一次性中心静脉导管行胸腔置管和闭式引流胸腔积液,A组注入顺铂40～60 mg+白细胞介素-2 100万u,B组注入顺铂60 mg,C组注入白细胞介素-2 100万u,1次／周,连续注射2～3周,4周后观察两组的疗效及不良反应。结果A、B、C三组总有效率分别82.6％、68.4％、66.7％;生活质量提高,KPS评分改善率为82.6％ 、78.9％、77.8％ ;三组不良反应无显著差异。结论胸腔闭式引流后灌注顺铂联合白细胞介素-2治疗恶性胸腔积液的疗效优于单用顺铂及单用白细胞介素-2,且不良反应轻。     

置管引流并注入白介素-2联合顺铂治疗恶性胸腔积液疗效分析

目的探讨中央静脉导管胸腔闭式引流后注入白介素-2联合顺铂治疗恶性胸腔积液的疗效。方法 48例恶性胸腔积液患者随机分为2组,均经皮胸腔穿刺,置入中心静脉导管,联合治疗组（A组）25例,胸腔内注200万单位白介素-2和40 mg顺铂;单用顺铂组（B组）23例,胸腔内注入40 mg顺铂。A、B组均接受3次化疗,每次间隔1周。观察2组疗效和不良反应。结果所有患者均获得满意引流效果;A和B组治疗总有效率分别为84.0%和60.9%,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。A组总不良反应发生率高于B组,但差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论中心静脉置管行胸腔闭式引流术具有创伤小、活动不受限以及引流效果满意等特点。白介素-2不良反应轻,耐受性好,是治疗恶性胸腔积液较好的选择。     

晚期非小细胞肺癌恶性胸腔积液IL-6水平与EGFR-TKIs治疗疗效及预后的关系

目的:探讨晚期非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)恶性胸腔积液中白介素-6(interleukin-6,IL-6)与接受表皮生长因子受体(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)酪氨酸激酶抑制剂(tyrosine kinase inhibitors,TKIs)治疗的疗效和预后的关系。方法:回顾性分析2014年01月至2017年05月在我院呼吸内科病理确诊NSCLC恶性胸腔积液73例患者的临床资料,采用流式荧光法检测胸腔积液中IL-6水平,蛋白磷酸化流式分析技术检测外周血单个核细胞中pSTAT1和pSTAT3表达,通过Kaplan-Meier法构建生存曲线,Cox比例风险模型行多因素分析。结果:整体入组患者的客观缓解率为64.4%,高IL-6组17例客观缓解率为41.2%,低IL-6组56例客观缓解率为71.5%,低IL-6组客观缓解率优于高IL-6组(P=0.006),所有完全缓解患者均为低IL-6组。高IL-6组和低IL-6组治疗失败时间(time to treatment failure,TTF)和总生存期(overall survival,OS)比较结果分别为:6.8个月 vs 10.5个月(P＜0.000 1),20.5个月 vs 26.4个月(P=0.000 3)。多因素回归分析示IL-6水平是影响TTF(P＜0.001,OR 6.190,95%CI 3.136~12.221)和OS(P＜0.001,OR 6.288 95%CI 3.060~12.925)的预后因素。在CD4+T淋巴细胞中,高IL-6组pSTAT1表达低于低IL-6组（P＜0.001）,两组间pSTAT3表达均无明显差异。结论:恶性胸腔积液中IL-6水平可能是预测EGFR敏感突变型NSCLC接受EGFR-TKIs治疗的患者临床预后的有效指标。     

Effect of IL-6 elevation in malignant pleural effusion on hyperfibrinogenemia in lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND: The involvements of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and fibrinogen in cancer development were elucidated independently, irrespective of IL-6 activity to induce fibrinogen. This study was undertaken to clarify the clinicopathological association of these molecules in lung cancer patients with malignant pleurisy. METHODS: IL-6, fibrinogen and the related molecules in blood and pleural effusion of 38 patients were assayed at 3-day intervals. RESULTS: IL-6 levels were elevated in sera of 27 cases (71.1%) and in all the effusions with mean values of 20.5 and 9970.5 pg/ml, respectively. Their correlation in 22 cases who were examined on the same day was statistically strong (r = 0.902, p < 0.0001). Occasional elevations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha were independent of IL-6 elevation. Levels of plasma fibrinogen, fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were more frequently elevated in the IL-6-elevated cases than those without IL-6 elevation. In all pleural effusions, fibrinogen levels were significantly decreased to <150 mg/dl with large elevations of FDP level. Immunocytologically, IL-6 was detected in cancer cells in 16 cases of adenocarcinoma in addition to host pleural cells, but its cellular positivity was not reflected in the IL-6 level in each pleural effusion. CONCLUSION: Compared with lung cancer patients without malignant pleurisy, IL-6, fibrinogen, FDP and CRP levels in patients with malignant pleurisy were increased more frequently in their peripheral blood. These were basically attributed to systemic leakage of IL-6 from the affected pleural cavity, in which plasma fibrinogen induced in response to serum IL-6 was exudated and degraded predominantly to FDP.     

High level of vascular endothelial growth factor in hemorrhagic pleural effusion of cancer

Angiogenic cytokines, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and angiogenin, are candidates for the induction of pleural effusions because they have been implicated in the induction of neovascularization, vascular permeability, and hemorrhage both in the inflammatory process and in tumor progression. Thus, we hypothesized that these angiogenic factors in effusion might be involved in the clinical manifestation of malignant pleural disease. We measured the levels of VEGF, bFGF, and angiogenin in pleural effusions and sera from 40 patients. Pleural effusions due to malignancy (1,350 pg/ml) contained significantly higher levels of VEGF than effusions due to inflammatory diseases (102 pg/ml; p = 0.034). Furthermore, hemorrhagic effusions showed significantly higher VEGF levels (1,942 pg/ml) than non-hemorrhagic effusions (202 pg/ml; p = 0.016) in malignant patients. In contrast, neither bFGF nor angiogenin were correlated with any clinical manifestation of pleural effusion. Immunohistochemical study revealed that malignant cells in the pleura were stained with anti-VEGF antibody. Our data suggest that VEGF secreted from tumor cells may be involved in the accumulation of pleural effusion in malignancy, and that increased levels of VEGF may induce hemorrhagic effusion.     

An analysis of cytokine status in the serum and effusions of patients with tuberculous and lung cancer

The present study was designed to ascertain whether or not the pleural effusion and serum cytokine levels (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF], interleukin-10 [IL-10], and interferon-gamma [IFN gamma]) in lung cancer patients differ from tuberculous (TB) pleural effusion, in which a strong cellular immune reaction is found; and, whether cytokine levels are a prognostic factor in lung cancer patients with malignant effusion. A total of 202 lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion and 26 patients with TB pleural effusion were studied consecutively between 1995 and 1998. Serum and effusion cytokine levels were analyzed with ELISA assays. The results showed that pleural effusion GM-CSF and IL-10 levels were significantly higher than serum levels in both cancer and TB patients. Pleural effusion IFN gamma levels were significantly higher than serum levels in TB patients. IFN gamma levels in both pleural effusion and serum were significantly higher in TB patients than in those with cancer. No significant difference was found, between TB and cancer patients, in the serum or pleural effusion levels of either IL-10 or GM-CSF. The ratio of pleural effusion IFN gamma to serum IFN gamma, effusion IFN gamma to effusion IL-10, and effusion IL-10 to serum IL-10, were all significantly higher in TB than in cancer patients, suggesting a higher cellular activity and T-helper 1 (Th1) reaction in TB pleural effusion than in malignant effusions, which were predominantly Th2 type. Survival analysis showed no significant difference in lung cancer patients with different levels of these cytokines. It was concluded that lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion had poorer immune profiles than those with TB pleurisy, both locally and systemically; and the cytokine profiles were not prognostic factors for lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion.     

转移性恶性胸腹腔积液患者肿瘤细胞中乳腺癌易感基因1mRNA的表达与铂类敏感性的关系

目的 研究乳腺癌易感基因1(BRCA1)在转移性恶性胸腹腔积液肿瘤细胞中的表达,并探讨BRCA1基因表达在铂类化疗疗效中的预测作用.方法 收集31例经病理确诊的恶性胸腹腔积液标本,分离原代肿瘤细胞.采用细胞计数试剂盒(CCK8)体外药物敏感性试验,检测顺铂(DDP)对原代肿瘤细胞的抗肿瘤作用,采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测肿瘤细胞中BRCA1 mRNA的相对表达水平.结果 BRCA1 mRNA在原代肿瘤细胞中的表达水平为0.618(0.014～18.063),DDP对原代肿瘤细胞的半数抑制浓度(IC50)为2.809 μg/ml (0.118～19.439 μg/ml).BRCA1 mRNA的表达及DDP对原代肿瘤细胞的IC50值与患者的年龄、性别、原发肿瘤类型、是否接受化疗以及积液类型均无关(均P＞0.05).BRCA1 mRNA的表达水平与DDP抵抗正相关,BRCA1 mRNA低表达者对DDP的敏感性高(r=0.786,P＜0.001).结论 检测BRCA1 mRNA的表达水平可以为转移性胸腹腔积液患者应用铂类药物化疗提供理论依据.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the mRNA expression of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) in tumor cells isolated from malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions, and the predictive role of BRCA1 related to the efficacy of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Methods Tumor cells were isolated from malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions of 31 cancer patients. The response of these tumor cells to cisplatin was determined by CCK8 assay. Real time quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the BRCA1 mRNA level in the primary culture cancer cells. Results The expression level of BRCA1 mRNA was 0.618(0.014-18.063)in primary culture tumor cells. The IC50 of DDP was 2.809 μg/ml in the primary culture tumor cells (0.118-19.439 μg/ml). Both BRCA1 mRNA expression and the tumor cells IC50 of DDP were not significantly related with patient age, gender, the type of primary tumor, whether to accept the chemotherapy and effusion type (P>0.05). The level of BRCA1 mRNA was negatively correlated with the chemosensitivity in terms of IC50 of cisplatin (P<0.001). Conclusion Assessment of expression level of BRCA1 mRNA may be useful in predicting the efficacy of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic malignant effusions.     

胸水脱落细胞DNA含量及VEGF,p53和CEA表达在良恶性胸腔积液鉴别中的意义

目的：探讨检测胸水细胞的DNA倍体以及VEGF、p53、CEA表达鉴别良恶性胸腔积液的价值。方法：73例胸腔积液患者，良性组13例，恶性组60例。图像细胞光度技术（image cytometry，ICM）进行DNA含量检测，免疫组化Envision法检测VEGF、p53、CEA。结果：良性胸水DNA异倍体率仅占23．1％。恶性胸水的异倍体率占77．8％，两者有统计学差异（P=0．001）。良性胸腔积液患者VEGF、p53、CEA表达率分别为12．5％、0、0。恶性胸腔积液VEGF、p53、CEA表达率分别为17．5％，17．5％和68．4％，与良恶性胸腔积液中CEA的表达相比有统计学差异（P〈0．001），VEGF和p53的表达无显著差异（P=0．722，P=0．198）。经DNA倍体联合VEGF、p53、CEA检测，敏感率可达90．4％，特异度87．5％，符合率90％。结论：ICM检测胸水细胞的DNA倍体联合VEGF、p53、CEA表达值得进一步探讨．有可能成为鉴别良恶性胸腔积液的又一方法。     

Circulating interleukin-6 predicts survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by macrophages, T cells, B cells, endothelial cells and tumour cells. Interleukin-6 is able to promote tumour growth by upregulating anti-apoptotic and angiogenic proteins in tumour cells. In murine models it has been demonstrated that antibodies against IL-6 diminish tumour growth. Several reports have highlighted the prognostic importance of IL-6 in e.g., prostate and colon cancer. We addressed prospectively the prognostic significance of serum IL-6 (sIL-6), measured at diagnosis of metastasis, in 96 unselected and consecutive patients with progressive metastatic breast cancer before the initiation of systemic therapy. The median sIL-6 value for the breast cancer population was 6.6 +/- 2.1 pg/ml. Patients with 2 or more metastatic sites had higher sIL-6 values compared to those with only 1 metastatic site (respectively 8.15 +/- 1.7 pg/ml and 3.06 +/- 6.6 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Patients with liver metastasis (8.3 +/- 2.4 pg/ml), with pleural effusions (10.65 +/- 9.9 pg/ml) and with dominant visceral disease (8.15 +/- 3.3 pg/ml) had significantly higher values compared to those without liver metastases (4.5 +/- 3.4 pg/ml; p = 0.001), without pleural effusions (5.45 +/- 1.5 pg/ml; p = 0.0077) and with dominant bone disease (4.5 +/- 1.4 pg/ml; p = 0.007) respectively. No correlation between sIL-6 and age, menopausal status, performance status, tumour grade, body-mass index, histology and hormone receptor status was found. Multivariate analysis showed that high levels of serum IL-6 have independent prognostic value. We conclude that circulating IL-6 is associated with worse survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer and is correlated with the extent of disease.     

Diagnostic value of ferritin in malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions

The diagnostic usefulness of ferritin measurements in pleural and peritoneal effusions has been evaluated in 57 patients. Mean (+/- standard error [SE]) ferritin levels were 291 +/- 50 ng/ml in 24 patients with noninflammatory transudates (Group I), 942 +/- 253 in 15 patients with nonmalignant exudates (Group II), and 1805 +/- 257 in 18 patients with malignant exudates (Group III). The mean (+/- SE) ratio of effusion/serum ferritin in Groups I, II, and III was 0.7 +/- 0.1, 2.7 +/- 0.7, and 5.7 +/- 1.2, respectively. The specificity and predictive value of a ferritin ratio in excess of 1.5 in distinguishing transudates from all exudates and in distinguishing transudates from malignant exudates were both very high (94%) to 96%). In the lower range of values considerable overlap existed between ferritin ratios obtained in patients with benign versus malignant inflammatory exudates. However, very high ferritin levels (greater than 3000 ng/ml) and ferritin ratios (greater than 20:1) were only encountered in malignant exudates. These results indicate that the measurement of ferritin levels and ferritin ratios may be a useful aid in the diagnosis of malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions.     

Group II phospholipase A2 is increased in peritoneal and pleural effusions in patients with various types of cancer

Serum levels of group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) have been reported to be associated with stage of disease in cancer patients. These levels are also related to the malignant potential in tissues, and are an important prognostic factor. We radioimmunoassayed group II PLA2 levels in pleural and peritoneal effusions from patients with various cancers. We also investigated the production of group II PLA2 in cells in effusions from cancer patients by Northern blotting, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. Immunoreactive group II PLA2 levels were significantly higher in effusions from 47 patients with various cancers, compared with those in sera and cirrhotic ascites. There was no significant correlation between group II PLA2 levels in effusions and those in sera. Group II PLA2 mRNA was expressed at a high level in cells from effusions, by Northern blot analysis, but not in those cells from blood. The localization of group II PLA2 protein and mRNA was intense in carcinoma cells and CD68-positive macrophages, determined by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. In addition, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly higher in effusions, in comparison with those in sera from patients, suggesting that cancer cells and macrophages produce group II PLA2 by IL-6. These group II PLA2 levels are apparently significantly increased in effusions, and the carcinoma cells and macrophages produce group II PLA2, as noted in effusions from patients with various cancers. Int. J. Cancer 74:245-250, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Interleukin 6 and its relationship to clinical parameters in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The relationship between interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and clinical parameters was studied in 25 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The serum levels of IL-6, C-reactive protein, alpha1-acid glycoprotein and fibrinogen were significantly higher in mesothelioma than in lung adenocarcinoma with cytology-positive pleural effusion. Serum IL-6 levels correlated with the levels of the acute-phase proteins. We demonstrated a high incidence of thrombocytosis (48%) and a significant correlation between platelet count and the serum IL-6 level. The level of IL-6 in the pleural fluid of patients with mesothelioma was significantly higher than in the pleural fluid of patients with adenocarcinoma, and was about 60-1400 times higher than in the serum. However, even higher levels of IL-6 in the pleural fluid and of thrombocytosis were found in patients with tuberculous pleurisy. These results indicate that large amounts of IL-6 from the pleural fluid of patients with mesothelioma leak into the systemic circulation and induce clinical inflammatory reactions. These profiles are not specific to mesothelioma as similar profiles are found in patients with tuberculous pleurisy. However, the detection of a markedly increased level of IL-6 in pleural fluid argues against a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma.     

Lymphokine-activated Killer Induction and Its Regulation by Macrophages in Malignant Pleural Effusions

Mononuclear cells (MNC) from pleural effusions and peripheral blood of 18 patients with primary lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion were studied. Pleural and blood MNC generated lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity similarly when cultured for 4 days with an optimal concentration of interleukin 2 (IL-2). Highly purified lymphocytes (>98%) and monocyte-macrophages (>90%) were isolated by discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation from pleural and blood MNC. Pleural macrophages, as well as blood monocytes, showed significant augmenting effects on in vitro LAK cell induction from pleural and blood lymphocytes by IL-2. During daily intrapleural administration of IL-2, significant induction of LAK activity in vivo was observed after 3 days, but then this LAK activity in pleural MNC decreased almost to zero by day 15. Daily injections of IL-2 resulted in reduction in the up-regulation of LAK induction by pleural macrophages and also in increase in the levels of soluble IL-2 receptors in pleural effusions. These findings indicate that in vivo LAK induction of lymphocytes in malignant effusions by IL-2 may be regulated by macrophages in the effusions.     

Lymphokine-activated killer induction and its regulation by macrophages in malignant pleural effusions

Mononuclear cells (MNC) from pleural effusions and peripheral blood of 18 patients with primary lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion were studied. Pleural and blood MNC generated lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity similarly when cultured for 4 days with an optimal concentration of interleukin 2 (IL-2). Highly purified lymphocytes (greater than 98%) and monocyte-macrophages (greater than 90%) were isolated by discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation from pleural and blood MNC. Pleural macrophages, as well as blood monocytes, showed significant augmenting effects on in vitro LAK cell induction from pleural and blood lymphocytes by IL-2. During daily intrapleural administration of IL-2, significant induction of LAK activity in vivo was observed after 3 days, but then this LAK activity in pleural MNC decreased almost to zero by day 15. Daily injections of IL-2 resulted in reduction in the up-regulation of LAK induction by pleural macrophages and also in increases in the levels of soluble IL-2 receptors in pleural effusions. These findings indicate that in vivo LAK induction of lymphocytes in malignant effusions by IL-2 may be regulated by macrophages in the effusions.     

Assaying of tumor necrosis factor alpha, complement factors, and alpha-1-antitrypsin in the diagnosis of malignant serous effusions.

The objective of this study was to measure the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in pleural and peritoneal effusions of different causes and to verify whether TNFalpha, alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha1AT), and complement factors C3 and C4 can be used in the differential diagnosis of serous effusion. One hundred forty-five serous effusions of various origins were analyzed. TNFalpha, alpha1AT, and complement factors C3 and C4 concentrations were measured simultaneously in blood and serous effusion using commercially available methods. Serous effusions were classified as follows: 102 exudates and 43 transudates. All variables were found to have good diagnostic value in the differential diagnosis of serous effusion. In the stepwise discriminant analysis, four variables were selected, producing a significant discriminant function (p < 0.001). Their order of selection was alpha1AT effusion, C4 serum, TNFalpha-effusion, and C3 effusion. Combined use of these variables increased remarkably the diagnostic value (in diagnosing exudates versus transudates) giving sensitivity = 93.14%; specificity = 90.70%; positive predictive value = 95.96%; negative predictive value = 84.78%. Determination of TNFalpha, complement factors C3 and C4, and alpha1AT may be a significant parameter in the differential diagnosis of serous effusions, particularly in those patients with malignant disease. Moreover, the combination of them significantly increased their diagnostic power.     

胸腔积液中肿瘤坏死因子、癌胚抗原和神经元特异性烯醇化酶的检测及诊断价值研究

目的探讨检测胸水中肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）、癌胚抗原（CEA）和神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）对胸腔积液的诊断价值。方法采用电化学发光酶免疫分析法检测59例结核性胸水和48例肺癌性胸水患者胸水中TNF-α、CEA和NSE水平。结果结核性胸水中TNF-α水平显著高于肺癌性胸水（P〈0.05）。肺癌性胸水中CEA和NSE明显高于结核性胸水（P〈0.01）。肺腺癌胸水中CEA升高最明显,非小细胞肺癌胸水中NSE升高最显著。联合检测CEA及NSE,诊断敏感度92.0%,准确度86.3%。结论检测TNF-α、CEA和NSE对结核性胸水和肺癌性胸水的诊断及鉴别诊断有较高的临床价值,联合检测胸水CEA和NSE可提高肺癌诊断敏感度。     

New approaches in the diagnostic procedure of malignant pleural effusions

The content of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (Ca 19-9), carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (Ca 15-3) and the expression of LewisY related carbohydrate antigens in benign and malignant pleural effusion were determined. These included 35 malignant pleural effusions: 13 breast cancers, 12 lung cancers (6 squamous cell carcinomas, 5 adenocarcinomas and 1 microcytoma), 2 mesotheliomas, 1 epithelioma, 1 kidney cancer, 1 hepatocarcinoma, 1 colon carcinoma, 3 lymphomas, 1 osteosarcoma and 9 benign pleural effusions. We showed that pleural fluid content of CEA, Ca 19-9 and Ca 15-3 were higher in malignant than in benign effusions. However CEA levels in squamous lung cancers were very high in both serum and pleural fluids whereas its levels were only slightly above the cut-off in breast cancers and in lung adenocarcinomas. Serum and pleural fluid Ca 15-3 values were higher in breast and in lung cancers with the highest values in the patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, the LewisY related carbohydrate antigens, evaluated by the reactivity of the cell extracts to MAb B3, were expressed only in breast cancers. These data suggest that pleural fluid content of CEA, and Ca 15-3 associated with the immunoblotting of cell extracts with MAb B3 appear to be very useful to improve the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.     

Cell-free DNA concentration in pleural fluid and serum: quantitative approach and potential prognostic factor in patients with cancer and pleural effusions

PURPOSE: The presence of pleural effusions in patients with tumors is often indicative of locally advanced or metastatic disease, and detection of malignancy in effusion samples frequently leads to a disease upstaging. Our purpose was to quantify the DNA in pleural effusion and serum in patients presenting pleural effusion in order to assess the potential prognostic impact. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The DNA level was determined by amplifying hRNase P in paired samples of serum and pleural fluid in 70 consecutive patients with cancer showing pleural effusion. A group of 30 patients without cancer was included. The correlation between serum and pleural DNA was calculated. Survival curves according to serum and pleural DNA were analyzed. RESULTS: Median DNA concentrations were greater in patients with neoplasia than in patients without malignancy: 105 ng/mL versus 40 ng/mL (P = 0.001) in serum samples, respectively; 93 ng/mL versus 21 ng/mL (P = 0.001) in pleural fluids, respectively. A positive correlation between serum and pleural levels was confirmed (r = 0.3; P < 0.05). Median survival time for patients with serum DNA < or = 105 ng/mL was 11.03 months in contrast to only 3.63 months for patients with higher values (P = 0.036). Accordingly, median survival time for patients with pleural DNA < or = 93 ng/mL was 12.3 months versus only 4.63 months in case of higher levels (P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: This study shows that there is a strong correlation between higher levels of free DNA in pleural fluid or serum and malignancy. Survival is worse for patients with higher DNA levels in serum and pleural fluid.