Purpose: the assessment of serum level changes of C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin (FER), and albumin (ALB) as inflammation markers in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer patients (stages IIIA - inoperable and stage IIIB) treated with radiotherapy. Significant findings: Normal pre-radiotherapy levels of CRP were found in 18 patients, of FER in 17, and of ALB in 22. Higher levels of CRP were found in 9 patients and of FER in 10. Lower ALB was found in 5 patients.Post-radiotherapy CRP levels were significantly higher (compared to the pre-radiotherapy levels) in 25 patients. The same was observed regarding FER in 18 patients whereas 12 patients had lower post-radiotherapy levels. The statistical analysis (non parametrical Wilcoxon test) revealed that these differences were statistically significant (p-value< 0.001).
Conclusions: The levels of CRP, FER, and ALB are reliable and useful biomarkers correlated with the acute complication of lung parenchyma damage induced by radiotherapy.
Keywords: Acute phase proteins; lung cancer; radiotherapy.