Time course of serum cytokines in patients receiving proton or combined photon/proton beam radiation for resectable but medically inoperable non–small-cell lung cancer ☆

Abstract Purpose We prospectively measured the levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and procollagen III peptide (P III P) in serum from non–small-cell lung cancer patients treated with photons combined with protons or protons alone. These factors were quantified because they may be extremely important in the development of side effects, and the treated volume integral dose may be crucial in inducing them. Methods Of the 12 participating patients, 6 with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 3 with adenocarcinoma received combined photon/proton beam radiation, whereas 2 with SCC and 1 with large-cell carcinoma (LCC) received only proton radiation. Mean age was 73.6 years. There were 4 male and 8 female patients with a mean smoking history of 87.0 packyears. Nine patients had Stage I, 2 had Stage II, and 1 had stage IIIA lung cancer. Serum samples were obtained at baseline and on Days 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 210 after initiation of radiation therapy. Injury scores for pneumonitis and fibrosis based on computed tomography (CT) scans were assigned. Results The percentage of lung volume irradiated was significantly less for patients treated with protons alone compared with those receiving photon plus proton therapy ( p p = 0.039). When evaluated collectively, bFGF, TNF-α, and IL-6 concentrations were significantly higher in the photon/proton group ( p p p = 0.027) and time after treatment ( p = 0.019) had an impact. Conclusions Although significant changes occurred in some of the measured cytokines and P III P, it was the difference in the volume integral dose that occurred when protons were used alone vs. mixed photon/proton therapy that correlated with the incidence of pneumonitis and/or fibrosis. However, it cannot be ruled out that differences in cytokine levels before radiotherapy initiation may have contributed to the outcome.