The Association of Plasma Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Concentrations and Inflammation Markers in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Abstract

Objectives: Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an emerging molecule that is highlighted in carcinogenesis and tumor progression in lung cancer. Since elevated concentrations of ADMA are observed in lung cancer patients, we aimed to explore its associations with inflammation markers and established prognostic indices.

Methods: 78 newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer patients who were presented with brain metastases at the initial admission and 41 Stage 1 patients with NSCLC were included in the study. ADMA concentrations among the groups were correlated. Further, the relationship between ADMA levels and the other inflammatory markers was analyzed.

Results: ADMA levels were significantly higher in the group of NSCLC patients with brain metastases than in the Stage 1 patients control group (p<0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between ADMA levels and BMI, albumin and hemoglobin (p<0.001), whereas it was positively correlated with platelet, WBC, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, RDW, RDW/albumin ratio, LDH, CRP, fibrinogen, platelet, and CRP/albumin ratio (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Increased circulating concentrations of ADMA were significantly correlated with higher NLR, CRP and LDH; which were accepted as indicators of poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. ADMA might contribute to tumor growth and dissemination via systemic inflammatory pathways.