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YKL-40 and non-small cell lung cancer
doi • 10.5578/tt.8941
Tuberk Toraks 2015;63(2):145-146
Geliş Tarihi/Received: 14.01.2015 • Kabul Ediliş Tarihi/Accepted: 04.02.2015
EDİTÖRE MEKTUP LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Beuy JOOB1
Viroj WIWANITKIT2 Sim Sai TIN3
1 Sanitation 1 Medical Academic Center, Bangkok, Thailand 2 Wiwanitkit House, Bangkok, Thailand
3 Surin Rajabhat University, Surin Thailand; visiting professor, Hainan Medical University, China
INTRODUCTION
The report on “YKL-40 and non-small cell lung cancer” is quite interesting (1). Kırankaya Güneş A, et al. reported that “YKL-40 levels in advanced stage NSCLC (stage III, IV) was found to be significantly high compared to early stage (1)”. In fact, the serum biomarker for lung cancer is very interesting issue in clinical pathology at present. Thöm, et al. showed that “serum YKL-40 level was identified as a new, independent prognostic biomarker in patients with metastatic NSCLC” (2). Nevertheless, the elevation of YKL-40 level can also be seen in other cancer such as melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (3,4). In addition, in non cancerous cases such as tuberculosis and cardiovascular disease, the elevation of YKL-40 level can also be observed (5,6).
Lack for specificity seems to be a big issue to be discussed. In the present report by Kırankaya Güneş et al., possible concomitant diseases that can result in elevated YKL-40 had to be looked for (1).
CONFLICT of INTEREST None declared.
RE FE REN CES
1. Kırankaya Güneş A, Gül Ş, Tutar N, Özgül MA, Çetinkaya E, Zengi O, et al. The place of YKL-40 in non-small cell lung cancer. Tuberk Toraks 2014;62:273-8.
2. Thöm I, Andritzky B, Schuch G, Burkholder I, Edler L, Johansen JS, et al. Elevated pretreatment serum concentration
RESPONSE Dear Joob,
I read the comments on our article titled “The place of YKL-40 in non-small cell lung cancer.,” which was published in Tuberk Toraks. 2014;62(4):273- 8 (1). I want to thank the authors for their valuable contributions. They said that there was a lack for specifi ty about including patients to study.
In our study we exclude all nonsmall cell lung cancer patients who have additional diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, other additional malignancies. And we mentioned this situation in material and methods as “didn’t have any additional diseases“.
I hope I clarifi ed the point related to these comment and thanks again for the authors’ contribution.
RE FE REN CE
1. Kırankaya Güneş A, Gül Ş, Tutar N, Özgül MA, Çetinkaya E, Zengi O, et al. The place of YKL-40 in non-small cell lung cancer. Tuberk Toraks 2014;62:273-8.
Dr. Şule GÜL
Clinic of Chest Diseases, Istanbul Yedikule Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Education and Research Hospital, ISTANBUL - TURKEY
e-mail: suleeyhan@gmail.com
Yazışma Adresi (Address for Correspondence)
Tuberk Toraks 2015;63(2):145-146 YKL-40 and non-small cell lung cancer
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of YKL-40-An independent prognostic biomarker for poor survival in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer 2010;116:4114-21.
3. Schmidt H, Johansen JS, Gehl J, Geertsen PF, Fode K, von der Maase H. Elevated serum level of YKL-40 is an independent prognostic factor for poor survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. Cancer 2006;106:1130-9.
4. Roslind A, Johansen JS, Christensen IJ, Kiss K, Balslev E, Nielsen DL, et al. High serum levels of YKL-40 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are associated with short survival. Int J Cancer 2008;122:857-63.
5. Kim HR, Jun CD, Lee KS, Cho JH, Jeong ET, Yang SH, et al.
Levels of YKL-40 in pleural effusions and blood from patients with pulmonary or pleural disease. Cytokine 2012;58:336-43.
6. Kastrup J. Can YKL-40 be a new inflammatory biomarker in cardiovascular disease? Immunobiology 2012;217:483-91.
Dr. Beuy JOOB
Medical Academic Center, BANGKOK - THAILAND e-mail: beuyjoob@hotmail.com
Yazışma Adresi (Address for Correspondence)
