Purpose: Solid tumors show increased interstitial fluid pressure (IFP), which correlates to a number of pathophysiological features of tumors. There have been no reports on the usefulness of measuring IFP in lung cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between IFP and the clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer.
Methods: IFP was measured prospectively in 215 patients with 219 lesions showing solid or part-solid appearance. Four patients with double lung cancer were excluded from the analysis, resulting in 211 patients with lung cancer being analyzed for the correlation between IFP and computed tomography (CT) appearance, size, Tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification, maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax), histological type, tumor grade, pleural and vessel invasion, Ki-67 index, and recurrence-free survival (RFS).
Results: The mean IFP was 8.5 mmHg; IFP was significantly correlated with the tumor size, SUVmax, TNM, vessel and pleural invasion, and Ki-67 index. Low IFP was associated with a better RFS compared to high IFP. Multivariate analysis did not select IFP as independent prognostic factor. In subgroup analysis of patients with adenocarcinoma, IFP was selected as independent one.
Conclusions: IFP correlates clinicopathological factors of lung cancer. IFP might be used as a prognostic factor for lung cancer.