Effect of breast cancer adjuvant therapies on potential biomarkers of pulmonary inflammation.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of breast cancer adjuvant therapies on the levels of circulating surfactant protein-D (SP-D), C-Reactive protein (CRP) and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), as potential biomarkers of subclinical pulmonary inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The soluble molecules were serially determined in 38 patients, prior to the initiation of radiation therapy (RT) and during adjuvant treatment, using immunoassays. RESULTS Significantly higher levels of all three biomarkers were observed in patients prior to the initiation of RT compared to healthy controls (CRP: p<0.001, SP-D: p<0.05, sRAGE: p<0.05). SP-D levels exhibited a gradual increase after RT and during follow-up (p<0.005). Patients treated with a combination of RT and hormonal therapy presented a significant, but less pronounced, increase in SP-D and a significant decrease in CRP compared to those who did not receive hormonal therapy (p=0.0428 and p=0.0116, respectively). Patients treated with a combination of RT and trastuzumab presented a significant increase in SP-D levels (p=0.0310). CONCLUSION The average rate of change in the levels of circulating SP-D and CRP during postoperative irradiation and adjuvant hormonal therapy suggests that the combined therapeutic regiment may potentially exert important anti-inflammatory effects on the lung. On the contrary, combined administration of RT and trastuzumab is likely to induce or provoke pulmonary inflammation.