AUTHOR=Zhao Cong , Zhang Zhiyun , Hu Xingsheng , Zhang Lina , Liu Yanxia , Wang Ying , Guo Yi , Zhang Tongmei , Li Weiying , Li Baolan TITLE=Hyaluronic Acid Correlates With Bone Metastasis and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2021.785192 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2021.785192 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=Background

Hyaluronan (HA) is one of the essential elements of the extracellular matrix (ECM), involved in the onset of metastasis in various tumors. The interaction and binding of the ligand–receptor HA/cluster of differentiation-44 (CD44) regulate the physical and biochemical properties of the ECM, which correlates with an increased propensity toward metastasis and poor survival outcome. Our study aimed to explore HA for predicting metastasis and survival rate in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Materials and Methods

This prospective cohort study recruited 72 patients with SCLC. Plasma HA and CD44 levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for 72 cases before initial systematic treatment (baseline samples), and plasma HA was detected via after-2-cycle-chemotherapy (A-2-C-CT) in 48 samples. Logistic regression analysis and the Cox proportional risk model were used to determine the independent predictors of distant metastasis and survival rate of patients.

Results

Baseline plasma HA was notably associated with bone metastasis (BM) [OR (95% CI = 1.015 (1.006–1.024), p = 0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that baseline plasma HA was chosen as an independent predictor of BM. Either baseline HA or CD44 or both were associated with BM. Dynamic alteration of HA was notably associated with A-2-C-CT clinical efficacy. Multivariate Cox regression analysis in forward likelihood ratio showed that A-2-C-CT HA was an independent predictor of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Conclusions

HA appears to be used as an independent predictive factor for BM, and the dynamic detection of HA can predict prognosis in SCLC patients. The mechanism of the HA/CD44 axis in BM of SCLC deserves further exploration.