Expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its soluble receptors in betel-quid-chewing patients at different stages of treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) can inhibit tumor progression. It can be regulated by its soluble receptors (sTNF-Rs). We examined the expression of TNF-alpha and sTNF-Rs and the TNF-alpha/sTNF-R ratios in betel-quid-chewing patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to see if these parameters are associated with disease progression according to the treatment stage. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 116 OSCC patients at different treatment stages and 19 betel-quid chewers with normal mucosa were assayed with ELISA. Levels of sTNF-RII in the OSCC patients were significantly higher than normal controls, with the recurrence group having the highest levels. After controlling for age and use of alcohol and tobacco, the TNF-alpha/sTNF-RII ratio showed significant differences comparing OSCC patients at each treatment stage with normal controls. Our results suggest that sTNF-RII and TNF-alpha/sTNF-RII ratio may be informative for the diagnosis and prognosis of OSCC.
Department of Biochemistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
Tzu-Rong
TR
Su
Kee-Lung
KL
Chang
Chien-Hung
CH
Lee
Chung-Ho
CH
Chen
Yi-Hsin
YH
Yang
Tien-Yu
TY
Shieh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000097:blood*; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood*; D012995:Solubility; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha