Surgery for lung cancer may affect the metastatic ability of lung cancer cells

Abstract

Background
The serum levels of cytokines and growth factors are altered after surgery. It has not been investigated how such alteration affects the metastatic ability of cancer cells.
Methods
The sera of 16 lung cancer patients from before and after surgery was subjected to the in vitro assays for cytotoxic activity, attachment capacity to endothelial cells, and cell proliferation, using human non-small cell lung cancer cells.
Results
The patient sera from after surgery showed higher cytotoxic activity to cancer cells, inhibited cancer cell attachment to vascular endothelial cells, and promoted cancer cell proliferation, compared with the sera from before surgery.
Conclusion
Alteration of serum contents after lung resection may depress the metastatic ability of intravascular lung cancer cells, and promote the cell proliferation of metastatic lesions.