Serum S100 calcium-binding protein A4 as a novel predictive marker of acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia after surgery for lung cancer

Abstract

Background Acute exacerbation (AE) of interstitial pneumonia (IP) is the most fatal complication after lung resection for lung cancer. To improve the prognosis of lung cancer with IP, the risk factors of AE of IP after lung resection should be assessed. We examined the usefulness of S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) in predicting AE of IP after lung resection for lung cancer. Methods This study included 162 patients with IP findings on preoperative high-resolution computed tomography scan who underwent curative-intent lung resection for primary lung cancer between April 2007 and March 2019. Serum samples were collected preoperatively. Resected lung tissue from 76 patients exhibited usual IP (UIP) pattern in resected lung were performed immunohistochemistry (IHC). Relationship between S100A4 and the incidence of AE of IP and short-term mortality was analyzed. Results The receiver operating characteristic area under the curve for serum S100A4 to predict postoperative AE of IP was 0.871 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.799–0.943; P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 75.3% at the cutoff value of 17.13 ng/mL. Multivariable analysis revealed that a high serum S100A4 level (> 17.13 ng/mL) was a significant risk factor for AE of IP (odds ratio, 30.85; 95% CI, 3.77–252.21; P = 0.001). A 1-year overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in patients with high serum levels of S100A4 (75.3%) than in those with low serum levels (92.3%; P = 0.003). IHC staining revealed that fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and macrophages expressed S100A4 in the UIP area, and the stroma and fibrosis in the primary tumor expressed S100A4, whereas tumor cells did not. Conclusions Serum S100A4 had a high predictive value for postoperative AE of IP and short-term mortality after lung resection.