Procalcitonin Level in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients among Indonesian Population

BACKGROUND: Serum Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that is frequently used to diagnose an infection. In some cases of thoracic malignancy, procalcitonin level appears to increase. However, the role of procalcitonin to diagnose malignancy is not certain yet, and the causes have not been known. AIM: This study aimed to investigate procalcitonin levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients. METHODS: This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design. All lung cancer patients did not diagnose based on cytology/histopathology results with no evidence nor were signs and symptoms of infection recruited through consecutive sampling. The subtypes of lung cancer include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma, staged III and IV. The procalcitonin levels were analysed from blood using immunofluorescent assay. Data were then analysed with the Chi-Square test by Epi Info™ 7 programs in which p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 68 lung cancer patients fulfilled the criteria of this study, 55 men (80.9%) and 13 women (19.1%). The highest percentage of cytology/histopathology type found was adenocarcinoma (80.9%), and 60.3% of those were diagnosed in stage IV. An increased procalcitonin level (greater than 0.01 ng/mL) occurred in 80.9% of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients. It appears that the higher the stage of lung cancer, the lower procalcitonin levels would be, although it was not statistically significant. There was no association between lung cancer subtype with procalcitonin levels. CONCLUSION: An increased level of procalcitonin may be an indication not only for infection but also for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.