Serum high mobility group box protein 1 as a clinical marker for non-small cell lung cancer

Aim: The role of high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. We investigated the contributions of HMGB1 in NSCLC, and analyze the correlation between HMGB1 and clinicopathologic outcomes. Patients and methods: A total of 145 patients with diagnosed NSCLC, and 77 patients with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (51 chronic bronchitis and 26 obstructive pulmonary emphysema), and 49 healthy volunteers were enrolled from January 2005 through July 2008. HMGB1 levels were analyzed by Western blot analysis. Results: The mean value of serum HMGB1 levels in 145 patients with lung cancer was 76.1 +/- 37.0 ng/ml. and was significantly higher than those in 77 COPD patients (39.8 +/- 10.8 ng/ml), and 49 healthy control (7.7 +/- 6.1 ng/ml, p < 0.0001, respectively); The serum HMGB1 levels were 30.2 +/- 5.9 ng/ml, 60.9 +/- 22.5 ng/ml, 99.0 +/- 23.1 ng/ml and 133.4 +/- 18.9 ng/ml in patients with NSCLC of TNM stage I, II, III, and IV. There were significant differences among four groups (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the significant positive correlation between the Levels of serum HMGB1 and the size of tumor (r = 0.799, p < 0.001); The serum HMGB1 levels were 57.2 +/- 28.8 ng/ml in patients with NSCLC before operation, and 26.5 +/- 14.7 ng/ml one month after operation (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our study suggests that HMGB1 may be a useful clinical marker for evaluating the NSCLC progression and is of potential prognostic value. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.