Elevated levels of pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase are an unfavorable predictor factor in patients with EML4-ALK rearrangement non-small cell lung cancer treated with crizotinib

• Main Authors: Liang H, Ma D, Xu Y, Zhao J, Chen M, Liu X, Zhong W, Li J, Wang M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2019-09-01
• Series: Cancer Management and Research
• Subjects: non-small cell lung cancer; lactate dehydrogenase; crizotinib; echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplasticlymphoma kinase; progression free survival.
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/elevated-levels-of-pre-treatment-lactate-dehydrogenase-are-an-unfavora-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR
• ISSN: 1179-1322

Hongge Liang1, Di Ma2, Yan Xu1, Jing Zhao1, Minjiang Chen1, Xiaoyan Liu1, Wei Zhong1, Junling Li2, Mengzhao Wang1 1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Institute and Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Wei ZhongDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, No. 1 Shuanfuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [e-mail] WangDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, No. 1 Shuanfuyuan Wangfujing Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [e-mail]: Targeted therapy is an important treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with specific genetic mutations, crizotinib can prolong survival in advanced NSCLC patients with echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4–anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) rearrangement. We performed a retrospective analysis to investigate the association between the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with EML4-ALK rearrangement NSCLC receiving treatment with crizotinib.Methods: Advanced (stage IIIb–IV) NSCLC patients with EML4-ALK rearrangement receiving treatment with crizotinib were enrolled between January 2007 and January 2016 at Peking Union Medical College and Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.Results: Overall, 212 patients were enrolled. Kaplan–Meier univariate analysis showed that elevated pre-treatment LDH level (7.9 vs 14.1 months, HR =1.251, CI: 1.008–1.553, P=0.004) was significantly associated with shorter PFS, while the post-treatment mean-LDH level (13.3 vs 14.3 months, HR=1.439, 95% CI: 0.994–2.082, P=0.970) was not significantly associated with PFS. Cox proportional hazards model also identified that pre-treatment LDH level (HR=2.085, 95% CI: 1.150–3.781, P=0.016) was associated with the PFS. Logistic regression analysis showed that post-treatment LDH level was associated with creatine kinase (OR=6.712, 95% CI 3.395–13.273, P<0.01), creatine kinase isoenzyme (OR=6.297, 95% CI 2.953–13.427, P<0.01), and hemoglobin (OR=4.163, 1.741–9.956, P<0.001).Conclusion: An elevated pre-treatment serum LDH level (>250 U/L) was significantly associated with shorter PFS in patients with EML4-ALK rearrangement NSCLC. Post-treatment elevated serum LDH level was not significantly associated with PFS, which related to adverse events including muscle damage and anemia.Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer, lactate dehydrogenase, crizotinib, echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4–anaplastic lymphoma kinase, progression-free survival