Serum cytokine levels as predictive biomarkers of benefit from ipilimumab in small cell lung cancer.

. Immunotherapy has shown efficacy in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but only a subset of patients benefits. Surrogate biomarkers are urgently needed.

Angiopoietin-2 is a negative prognostic marker in small cell lung cancer.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly lethal disease due to its chemorefractory nature after initial treatment. Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth, metastasis and chemoresistance. We hypothesized that angiogenesis could predict chemoresistance in SCLC patients and be potentially a therapeutic target in this disease.

High circulating hepatocyte growth factor levels associate with epithelial to mesenchymal transition and poor outcome in small cell lung cancer patients.

We have previously shown that Met activation through the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) increases tumorogenesis, induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and chemoresistance in SCLC. We sought to evaluate circulating HGF levels in SCLC patients and assess correlation with outcome and EMT features in the tumor. Serum samples from patients with SCLC were prospectively obtained at diagnosis, response evaluation and progression.