Predictive values of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 for radiation pneumonitis

To investigate the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 in the plasma of patients with lung cancer who received radiation therapy (RT), and to analyze the correlation between these cytokines and radiation pneumonitis (RP).
Patients with lung cancer who received 3D-CRT in our hospital were prospectively evaluated. Circulating cytokine levels were measured with ELISA before RT and at the end of RT. Regular follow-up was undertaken 3 months after RT. Statistical analysis was applied to determine the relevance of cytokines to radiation-induced lung injury.
Of 104 patients, 29 (27.9%) developed RP. The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the plasma after RT were significantly higher than before RT (p1).
TNF-α levels in plasma were closely related to RP but still cannot be used as predictors for RP.