Longitudinal Plasma Proteomics Reveals an Immuno-thrombotic Signature that Predicts Radiation Pneumonitis in Lung Cancer
A simple four-protein blood test predicts who will develop severe lung inflammation after cancer radiation, enabling preventive strategies before harm occurs.
Longitudinal plasma proteomics across 267 samples from 57 lung cancer patients identified an immuno-thrombotic signature predicting radiation pneumonitis (RP), validated in 320 independent patients with a clinically transportable 4-protein core (PROZ, SERPINA7, SERPINA6, HAGH). This blood-based tool for early RP risk stratification could enable personalized toxicity mitigation in lung cancer radiotherapy.
What the study was
- Study design
- Prospective discovery + independent external validation cohort
- Population
- Lung cancer patients (NSCLC/SCLC) undergoing radiotherapy; discovery n=57, external validation n=320
- Sample size
- 377
- Category
- Diagnostics
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Why it surfaced
Prospective discovery + external validation design with n=320 is methodologically strong. 4-protein panel (PROZ, SERPINA7, SERPINA6, HAGH) is potentially clinically implementable for pre-treatment RP risk stratification. IJROBP is a high-impact clinical oncology journal. Scored 7 (top STANDARD).
A plain-language summary of published research — not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own care.