Natural killer cell activity as a biomarker for the diagnosis of lung cancer in high-risk patients

Morten Borg*, Sara Witting Christensen Wen, Torben Frøstrup Hansen, Anders Jakobsen, Rikke Fredslund Andersen, Ole Hilberg, Ulla Møller Weinreich, Line Nederby

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
57 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Natural killer (NK) cells play an essential role in the immune response against cancer. However, immune escape mechanisms may cause inferior NK cell activity (NKA) in patients with cancer. This prospective study examined the relationship between NKA and lung cancer in a high-risk cohort.

METHODS: In a cohort study, 250 participants referred by their general practitioner for suspicion of lung cancer were included. Before clinical investigation, blood was collected into NK Vue tubes, and the level of interferon gamma after 24 hours served as a surrogate marker for NKA.

RESULTS: Among 250 patients, 79 were diagnosed with lung cancer. No difference in NKA was found between patients with lung cancer and control participants in which lung cancer was ruled out (median 226 pg/mL vs. 450 pg/mL). However, there was a significant difference in NKA between patients with late-stage lung cancer and controls (median 161 pg/mL vs. 450 pg/mL). A linear regression model showed that NKA was not influenced by age, sex or smoking status.

CONCLUSIONS: The significantly lower NKA in patients with late-stage lung cancer warrants further investigation combining NKA with other biomarkers and examining the potential role of NKA as a marker of disseminated disease.

Original languageEnglish
Article number03000605221108924
JournalThe Journal of International Medical Research
Volume50
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)3000605221108924
ISSN0300-0605
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Biomarkers
  • Cohort Studies
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • lung cancer
  • Natural killer cell
  • screening
  • interferon gamma
  • high-risk
  • biomarker

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