Investigating the utility of serum cytokine measurements in a multi-institutional cancer anorexia/weight loss trial.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been implicated in the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome. However, previous smaller studies have yielded conflicting results as to whether circulating, serum concentrations of these cytokines are in fact elevated. As the translational component of a large multi-institutional trial, this study assessed the clinical value of serum concentrations of these cytokines in patients with this syndrome.


METHODS
Patients with incurable cancer with anorexia and/or weight loss were eligible. All underwent weekly weight measurements and appetite assessment for the first month and then monthly assessments thereafter. Serum was obtained at baseline and at 1 month, and all three cytokines were measured with the Immunolite assay.


RESULTS
A total of 118 patients participated. At baseline, 99%, 54%, and 47% of patients' samples had undetectable IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and IL-6, respectively. Similar results were obtained at 1 month. No correlations were observed between serum cytokine concentrations and changes in weight or appetite. Baseline serum IL-6 predicted a diminished survival but only after adjustment for age and cancer site.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum concentrations of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and IL-6, as measured in this study, provide data of limited clinical value for patients with the cancer anorexia/weight loss syndrome.
Jatoi
Aminah
A
Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Jatoi.aminah@mayo.edu
Egner
James
J
Loprinzi
Charles L
CL
Sloan
Jeff A
JA
Novotny
Paul J
PJ
Dakhil
Shaker R
SR
Mailliard
James A
JA
Klee
George G
GG
Krook
James E
JE
D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D002100:Cachexia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D019290:Megestrol Acetate