title: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonists and other markers in colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) has been suggested as a potentially valuable therapeutic agent and has been shown to improve outcome in various animal models of arthritis, septic shock, and inflammatory bowel disease, there is little information available about its level in the circulation in patients with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of IL-1ra, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and cortisol were measured in normal controls and patients with colorectal cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data showed that serum IL-1ra levels in patients were significantly lower than those of healthy controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, serum sIL-2r and cortisol levels in patients were significantly higher than those of normal controls (P < 0.01). Serum sICAM-1 levels in patients were the same as in normal controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that a reduced level of IL-1ra exists in colorectal cancer patients relative to normal controls, indicating that cancer patients have an immunologic disorder and that exogenous IL-1ra administration might be a future alternative for cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: First Dept. of Surgery, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwagaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hizuta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D006854:Hydrocortisone