Periostin is an extracellular matrix protein involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the role of serum periostin as a surrogate marker for treatment efficacy is still unknown. In 122 advanced non-small cell lung cancer cases, 37 patients with benign lung disease and 40 healthy controls, serum periostin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The associations of serum periostin levels with the clinic-pathological parameters, chemotherapy response, and clinical outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer patients were analyzed. Serum periostin levels were significantly higher in non-small cell lung cancer patients, and it was related significantly to bone metastasis ( p = 0.021). Serum periostin of 65 non-small cell lung cancer patients were detected before and after two cycles of chemotherapy. The patients with and without periostin response had significant difference in objective response to chemotherapy ( p = 0.001). For the 122 non-small cell lung cancer patients, the median progression-free survival was 5 months. In a multivariate analysis, performance status (hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.67), baseline periostin (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.01), and periostin response (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.86) were significantly correlated with prognosis. In conclusion, serum periostin was elevated in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. Baseline periostin and periostin responses appeared to be reliable surrogate markers to predict chemotherapy response and survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Keywords: Periostin; chemotherapy; non–small cell lung cancer; predictive factor; prognostic factor.