The clinical characteristics of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients with positive serum tumor markers: a retrospective study

Background: Serum tumor markers (STM), extensively used for the diagnosis, monitoring and prognostic assessment of tumors, can be increased in some non-malignant lung diseases. To date, there is a paucity of studies regarding the clinical characteristics of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients with positive STMs. Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of bronchiectasis with one and multiple positive STMs. Methods The clinical data of 377 bronchiectasis patients was retrospectively collected from January 2017 to December 2019 from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. Patients were divided into STM positive and STM negative group. According to the number of the positive STMs, the STM positive group was further subdivided into the single STM positive group and the ≥ 2 STMs positive group. The clinical characteristics are described and compared separately and the multivariate logistic regression analysis model was used to investigate the risk factors regarding the positive STMs. Results Patients in the STM positive group were older ( P  = 0.005), had a longer disease duration ( P  = 0.026), higher mMRC scores ( P  = 0.019) and developed higher fever ( P  = 0.027). Additionally, patients with positive STMs also had lower Albumin/Globulin Ratio (A/G), prealbumin (PAB) ( P  = 0.016, P  = 0.043, respectively) and higher CRP, ESR and Fbg ( P  = 0.001, P  = 0.002 and P  < 0.001, respectively). ESR (OR 1.824, 95%CI 1.061–3.137; P  = 0.030) and the number of affected lobes (OR 1.388, 95%CI 1.184–1.627; P  < 0.001) were independently associated with one and two or more positive STMs in bronchiectasis patients. Conclusion The positive STM is associated with a higher inflammation status and severer radiologic manifestations in bronchiectasis patients.