Serum LDH and α-HBDH levels as biomarkers predicting the staging in lung adenocarcinoma patients

Abstract Background Lung adenocarcinoma (L-ADC) is one of the major types of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). This retrospective study aimed to assess correlations between the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and treatment responses in L-ADC patients, including the advanced-stage patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapies. Methods L-ADC patients were separated into two groups- the advanced (stage III-IV) and the early-middle (stage I-II) groups by the seventh edition of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM classification. Serum LDH, α-HBDH, and CEA levels were measured by internationally standardized spectrophotometric methods. Results This retrospective study recruited 100 patients with L-ADC. Group A had lower LDH (P = 0.042), α-HBDH (P = 0.013), and CEA (P = 0.017) levels than those of group B. The level of total protein (TP) was increased in Group A than that in group B (P = 0.006). Serum LDH level was significantly correlated with that of CEA (P = 0.003), albumin (ALB; P = 0.013), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP; P = 0.02). Serum α-HBDH level also was correlated with that of CEA (P = 0.008). The change in serum LDH levels in these groups after 4 cycles of chemotherapy was not associated with an improved radiological response (P > 0.05). Conclusions Serum LDH and α-HBDH levels may have substantial application values for staging in and prognosis of L-ADC patients, but there were no significant changes in levels of other serum biomarkers in terms of evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy.