Alterations in serum biochemical parameters of patients with lung cancer exposed to radiotherapy

In this study, the alterations in serum biochemical parameters of patients with lung cancer exposed to radiotherapy was investigated. For this aim, the levels of serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), bilurubin (BLB), copper (Cu), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were evaluated before and after radiotherapy. Serum enzyme, protein, Na and K levels were determined using an autoanalyzer. Serum Cu analysis was made with Atomic Absorbtion Spectrophotometre (AAS). Although we found significant increases in levels of GGT, BLB, Cu and K in patients, levels of AST, ALT, ALB and Na in patients showed significant decreases. The levels of serum AST and ALT fairly decreased after radiotherapy. The level of GGT in patients was significant higher than that in the controls before radiotherapy. However, GGT level showed again a distinctly decrease after radiotherapy. There was an inverse relationship among serum BLB, Cu and ALB values. Besides, serum Na levels showed significantly decrease in patients at the end of radiotherapy treatment compared to the controls and before radiotherapy, and K levels increased significantly following radiotherapy. In conclusion, the selected serum parameters are very sensitive and useful biomarkers for the study of the effects of radiotherapy.