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Adipokines and Systemic Inflammation in Weight-Losing Lung Cancer Patients

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Abstract

Background

Cancer cachexia is a devastating condition leading to loss of function and independence, decreased performance status, decreased quality of life, and poor prognosis. Adipokines play a role in a wide variety of physiological or pathological processes, including immunity and inflammation, in addition to having significant effects on metabolism and lipogenesis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship of adipokines and systemic inflammation in weight-losing advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods

Sixty-three male NSCLC patients (stages III and IV) and 25 age- and sex-matched controls were included. NSCLC patients were further divided into subgroups as those with a > 5% weight loss in last 6 months and those who did not. Serum leptin, adiponectin, and TNF-α concentrations were measured by ELISA using commercially available kits.

Results

The positive acute-phase reactants (APR) CRP, leukocyte, ferritin, thrombocyte, and fibrinogen were higher in the NSCLC group. Serum albumin level (which is a negative APR) was lower in the cancer group, whereas there was no difference in transferrin level between the groups. TNF-α and leptin concentrations were similar in the cancer group and the control group, whereas adiponectin was lower in the cancer group. There was a difference in thrombocyte and transferrin levels between patients with and without weight loss, whereas CRP, TNF-α, and adiponectin levels were similar. Leptin was lower in weight-losing cancer patients. However, there was no correlation between adipokines and markers of systemic inflammation.

Conclusion

These results revealed a lack of association between adipokine levels and systemic inflammation with cancer cachexia.

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Acknowledgment

The study was funded by the Adnan Menderes University Research Foundation.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chest Diseases, School of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, 09100, Aydin, Turkey

    Sule T. Gulen, Fisun Karadag, Emel Ceylan & Orhan Cildag

  2. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey

    Aslihan B. Karul & Naciye Kilicarslan

  3. Department of Thoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey

    Nilgun K. Kuman

Authors
  1. Sule T. Gulen
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  2. Fisun Karadag
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  3. Aslihan B. Karul
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  4. Naciye Kilicarslan
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  5. Emel Ceylan
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  6. Nilgun K. Kuman
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  7. Orhan Cildag
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Correspondence to Fisun Karadag.

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Gulen, S.T., Karadag, F., Karul, A.B. et al. Adipokines and Systemic Inflammation in Weight-Losing Lung Cancer Patients. Lung 190, 327–332 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-011-9364-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-011-9364-6

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