Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer is associated with less immunochemokine disturbances than thoracotomy

Objective: Major surgery is immunosuppressive and could have an impact on postoperative tumor immunosurveillance and recurrence in cancer patients. Low circulating levels of insulin growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 have been linked to advance prostate and the development of colonic cancers. This prospective study examined the early postoperative circulating levels of IGFBP-3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing major lung resection by VATS versus thoracotomy. Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients with resectable primary NSCLC were assigned to VATS or thoracotomy approach over a 7-month-period. Blood samples were collected preoperatively and postoperatively on days (POD) 1 and 3 for enzyme linked immunosorbent assay determination of IGFBP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in the serum. Results: There were no demographic differences between the two groups. VATS lung resection was associated with lower levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 on POD1 (median 628 vs 1311 ng/ml, p = 0.009; and 131 vs 211 ng/ml, p = 0.004, respectively) but higher levels of IGFBP-3 on POD3 (1366 vs 1144 ng/ml, p = 0.02), when compared with the thoracotomy approach. There was no perioperative mortality. Conclusions: VATS major lung resection for NSCLC is associated with higher circulating levels of IGFBP-3, and lower levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, compared to the thoracotomy approach. The clinical relevance of these postoperative changes on tumor biology following lung resection for cancer warrants further investigation.