title: IL-6, M-CSF and IAP cytokines in ovarian cancer: simultaneous assessment of serum levels.
abstract: The aim of this study was to simultaneously determine IL-6, M-CSF and IAP levels in 61 serum samples of previously untreated ovarian cancer patients. A direct correlation between IL-6 and M-CSF has been found in our patient population (r = +0.41, p = 0.013), while IAP serum levels failed to correlate with M-CSF (r = +0.15, p = 0. 24) and IL-6 (r = +0.17, p = 0.18) levels. Since IL-6 and M-CSF have been demonstrated to be both induced in response to the same agents, it is conceivable that a mechanism of coregulation in the production of these cytokines by tumor cells and macrophages might occur. The direct correlation between IL-6 and M-CSF also suggests that tumor-derived cytokines can potentially lead to a self-maintaining cytokine network by recruiting cytokine-producing host cells and by perpetuating cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrandina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martucci
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Romanini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benedetti Panici
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C030193:immunosuppressive acidic protein; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor