Serum evaluation of interleukin 6 in ovarian cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Cytokines are intercellular hormones, believed to play a functional role in the natural history of various malignant diseases. In vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that interleukin 6 (IL-6) may provide autocrine and paracrine growth stimulation in ovarian cancer cells.


METHODS
In the present study we measured IL-6 in the serum of 73 patients with FIGO stage I to IV ovarian cancer. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine IL-6 serum levels. Results were correlated to clinical data. Serum levels of IL-6 were additionally evaluated in a panel of 50 normal controls.


RESULTS
Median serum levels of IL-6 in patients with ovarian cancer and normal controls were 55.6 (minimum 0, maximum 2869.0) pg/ml and 0.5 (minimum 0, maximum 2.14) pg/ml, respectively (Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.0001). When serum levels of IL-6, taken prior to therapy, were grouped by FIGO stage, lymph node involvement, and grading of tumor cells, we found a statistically significant correlation with FIGO stage (Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.04). Lymph node involvement and grading of tumor cells were not correlated with IL-6 levels. Elevated IL-6 serum levels prior to therapy were significantly correlated with poorer disease-free (log-rank test, P = 0.003) and overall survival (log-rank test, P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated IL-6 serum levels prior to therapy are correlated with a poor relapse-free and overall survival in ovarian cancer patients.
Tempfer
C
C
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna, Austria. clemens.tempfer@akh-wien.ac.at
Zeisler
H
H
Sliutz
G
G
Haeusler
G
G
Hanzal
E
E
Kainz
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6