Plasma osteopontin velocity differentiates lung cancers from controls in a CT screening population.

Introduction: As CT screening is integrated into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) care, additional parameters are needed to help distinguish cancers from benign nodules. Osteopontin (OPN), a secreted phosphoprotein, has elevated plasma levels in NSCLC. We hypothesize that changes in plasma OPN over time (i.e., OPN velocity [OPNV]) can differentiate NSCLC patients from those without cancer in a CT screening population.

Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted within a NSCLC CT screening trial. Incident cancers with serial plasma were matched to controls. OPN was measured by ELISA. Demographic, OPN, and OPNV were compared between cancers and controls using Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests.

Results: Ten incident cancers were identified. The pack years distributions were similar, but cancers were older (median of the paired difference: 5.35 years; p=0.002) and their surveillance intervals were shorter (median of the paired difference: -2 months; p=0. 03) than matched controls. Baseline OPN was similar (median of the paired difference: -5.15 ng/ml, p=0.50), but OPNV in the cancers was significantly greater than that of matched controls, (median of the paired difference: 1.06 ng/ml/month, p=0.01). Accuracy rate for prediction of disease status based on OPNV (adjusted for age and surveillance) was 83%.

Conclusions: These are early evidence for utility of monitoring plasma OPN during CT screening to assist in identification of NSCLCs.