Endothelin-1 level in blood and lung tissue in post-COVID-19 patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma

Long-term consequences of COVID-19 are associated with persistent endothelial dysfunction, so it is important to study both infectious and oncological processes. The aim of the study was to examine endothelin-1 (ET-1) level in the blood and lung tissues of post-COVID-19 patients (men and women) with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Materials and Methods. We examined 60 patients (59.1±3.9 years of age) with verified NSCLC, T1-3NxM0, hospitalized at the National Medical Research Center for Oncology in 2020-2021. All patients had a history of asymptomatic/mild COVID-19 (control group) or severe/moderate COVID-19 (main group). We also examined 15 healthy people (of the same age and sex) who did not suffer from COVID-19 at the time of blood sampling (donor group). The levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1-38, ET-1-21) were measured by ELISA in blood plasma of all trial subjects and in lung tissues these parameters were measured only in NSCLC patients before treatment. Results. In NSCLC patients of the main group, ET-1-21 level in plasma was on average twice as high as that in the control group and in donors. In the tumor and the perifocal zone, ET-1-21 level was higher than that in the resection line tissue: by 1.4-2.7 times in the control group, by 1.6-7.6 times in the main group in men and women. At the same time, women of the main group had a significantly more pronounced increase in ET-1-21 level in the perifocal zone and a decrease in the tumor tissue compared to that in the control group. ET-1-38 level in the control group was 3 and 2.1 times as low as in the tumor and perifocal zone, and in the main group it was 2.8 times as high in the perifocal zone in women as that in the resection line tissue. Gender differences in ET-1 level in both groups of patients were revealed. Conclusion. In NSCLC post-COVID-19 patients, changes in the endothelin-1 level were found, which could be caused not only by long-term endothelium dysfunction, but which also could modify NSCLC development.