Significance of inflammatory cytokines in the progression of colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines are associated with the disease status of cancer patients. Our purpose was to determine whether the profile of serum levels of interleukin-1 -2, -6, and -8, and tumor necrosis factor in patients with colorectal cancer correlated with tumor stages and survival.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of individual cytokines in 164 colorectal cancer patients were determined before operation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The clinical significance of each serum cytokine was evaluated in relation to tumor progression and survival.


RESULTS
Levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 were significantly higher in patients than in controls. The serum concentrations of interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 were correlated with Dukes' stages. Only the levels of interleukin-6 were found to be associated with patient survival by univariate analysis. However, multivariate analysis did not identify interleukin-6 level as an independent factor of prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevation of serum cytokines, such as interleukin-6, may be related to the development and progression of colorectal cancer. Interleukin-6 level is associated with the clinical outcome, but is not an effective prognostic predictor.
Chung
Yuan-Chang
YC
Department of Surgery, Hsin-Chu Hospital, Department of Health, No. 25, Lane 442, Sec 1, Xhing-Kuo Road, Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan, ROC. young@hch.gov.tw
Chang
Ya-Fen
YF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein