Pleural effusion levels of dj-1 are increased in elderly lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusions

Objectives: DJ-1 is a multifunctional protein implicated in redox dependent cell fate decisions. The aim of ourstudy was to determine the pleural fluid (PF) levels of DJ-1 in malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) secondary tolung cancer. Additionally, we opted to assess potential correlations of DJ-1 PF levels with the PF levels ofsuperoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) and 8-isoprostane that are known antioxidant enzymes and have beenpreviously reported in MPEs. Methods: Forty lung cancer patients with cytological proof of MPE were enrolled in this study. The PF levels ofDJ-1, SOD1, and 8-isoprostane were measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: The median PF levels of DJ-1 were 826 ng/mL (interquartile range, IQR: 482–1010 ng/mL). DJ-1 PFlevels significantly correlated with PF Cu/Zn-SOD1 and PF 8-isoprostane levels (Spearman’s rho, r;r = −0476, P = 0002 and r = −0264, P = 0033, respectively), PF lactate dehydrogenase (r = −0497,P = 0001) and total PF cell counts (r = −0325, P = 0041). Finally, in patients aged over 65 the PF DJ-1levels were significantly higher than patients aged less than 65 (875 ng/mL vs. 607 ng/mL, respectively,P = 0037).Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first report to determine DJ-1’s levels in MPEs due to lung cancer.The negative correlations between DJ-1, SOD1, and 8-isorpostane warrant further investigation regarding thealtered redox regulation associated with MPEs. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2015