AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) levels of a valid oxidative stress marker, 8-isoprostane, before and after chemotherapy, in patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in correlation with the extent of the disease and response to treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-five patients with inoperable NSCLC were initially enrolled in the study. Twenty-nine of them were finally evaluated in regards to 8-isoprostane levels in EBC before and after chemotherapy.

RESULTS

8-Isoprostane levels were significantly lower after chemotherapy (p=0.014). Further analysis showed that the differences were mainly attributed: a) to the extent of the disease, with patients diagnosed with up to locally advanced disease (stages IB-IIIB) having significantly lower EBC 8-isoprostane levels post-chemotherapy (p=0.031); and b) to the response to treatment, with patients evaluated with partial response to treatment having significantly lower EBC 8-isoprostane levels post-chemotherapy (p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

In this prospective study, we showed that 8-isoprostane might represent a biomarker in NSCLC, reflecting both response to chemotherapy, as well as the extent of the disease.