Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nutritional status in pancreatic cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a multifunctional cytokine associated with cancer-related cachexia. In this study we evaluated serum levels of TNF-alpha in pancreatic cancer patients and investigated their relationships to cachexia.


METHODS
Serum TNF-alpha levels were determined in 63 patients with pancreatic cancer using an enzyme immunoassay specific for human TNF-alpha.


RESULTS
Serum TNF-alpha levels were detected in 36.5% of patients. Patients with metastatic disease showed significantly higher positive serum TNF-alpha rate compared to those with non-metastatic disease. Patients with detectable serum TNF-alpha levels had significantly lower body weight and body mass index, lower haematocrit and haemoglobin values, and lower serum total protein and albumin levels compared to those with undetectable TNF-alpha levels. Serum TNF-alpha levels were inversely correlated with body weight, body mass index, haematocrit, haemoglobin, and serum protein and albumin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
TNF-alpha levels are detectable in the serum of pancreatic cancer patients, particularly in those with advanced disease, and these levels correlate with poor nutritional status.
Karayiannakis
A J
AJ
Second Department of Surgery, Democritus Thrace University, Medical School, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. akarayan@usa.net
Syrigos
K N
KN
Polychronidis
A
A
Pitiakoudis
M
M
Bounovas
A
A
Simopoulos
K
K
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha