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Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with squamous cell lung cancer
Ryuji Inoue1, Yoshihiro Nishimura, Tetsuji Kado
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hyogo Medical Center for Adults, Akashi, Japan.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness, both in vivo and in vitro, and the type of lung cancer (squamous cell or adenocarcinoma).
Methodology:
We measured airway responsiveness by methacholine inhalation test in 33 patients with squamous cell lung cancer and 44 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, airway smooth muscle reactivity to acetylcholine was measured in vitro in specimens from some patients.
Results:
Seventeen of 33 patients with squamous cell cancer and three of 44 patients with adenocarcinoma showed bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Multiple regression analysis as used to assess the log of the minimum cumulative dose to decrease respiratory conductance vs six variables: cancer phenotype, FEV1 (% predicted), FEV1/FVC (%), smoking pack years, gender and the location of tumour. The phenotype (squamous cell cancer) was the only factor associated with BHR. However, there was no significant difference in airway smooth muscle reactivity to acetylcholine in vitro in bronchial muscle samples from squamous cell cancer patients (n = 6) and adenocarcinoma patients (n = 6).
Conclusion:
The present findings suggest that bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with squamous cell lung cancer is not determined solely by bronchial smooth muscle hyperreactivity.