Combining cytokines of different pathways may improve predictive power for radiation-induced lung toxicity

22177 Background: Although Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a key player, radiation-induced lung toxicity (RILT) involves numerous cytokines of multiple pathways. We hypothesized that TGF-β combined with cytokines of other pathways such as Interleukin (IL)-1β and Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β can predict RILT more accurately. Methods: Eligible subjects included patients with stages I-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with RT alone or combined chemoradiation. Plasma TGF- β1 and 29 cytokine levels were measured using ELISA and a microsphere-based sandwich immunoassay at pre, 2, and 4 weeks during RT. Logistic Regression was used to test the correlations between cytokine concentration and RILT. Results: There were 25 patients, 6 with and 19 without RILT. Hazard factors TGF-β, MIP-1β, IL-1β, IL-15, GM-CSF, IL-8, IL-12p40, IP-10, IL-12p70, MIP-1α, TGF-α and protective factor IL-1ra were significantly associated with RILT under univariate analysis (X2 all ≥ 3.83, P all ≤ 0.05, ...