CXC chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4) is predictor of tumour angiogenic activity and prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing surgical treatment

Objective: To evaluate the association of CXC chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4) plasma levels with tumour angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to assess association of CXCL4 with clinical outcomes.

Patients and methods: Fifty patients with early stage NSCLC who underwent pulmonary resection. CXCL4 levels were analysed by ELISA. Angiogenesis was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and microvessel density (MVD) count.

Results: There was positive correlation between MVD and CXCL4 levels. Patients with higher CXCL4 levels had worse overall and disease-free survival.

Conclusions: Plasma levels of CXCL4 are associated with tumour vascularity. Increased CXCL4 levels in NSCLC patients undergoing treatment may indicate active cancer-induced angiogenesis associated with relapse and worse outcome.     

Optical Scattering by Dense Disordered Metal Nanoparticle Arrays

We address the optical properties of dense disordered yet well-separated metal nanoparticle arrays produced by physical vapor deposition through anodized aluminum oxide membrane masks. Using variations in synthesis parameters, the particle diameters vary from 14 to 50 nm and average center separation from 45 to 112 nm. Ag nanoparticle arrays with no long-range periodicity exhibit apparently random formation of high-intensity depolarized regions relative to orientation of incident electric field. We analyze this behavior numerically using coupled dipole model and explain the contrast formation in recorded scattering images.