title: Serum concentrations of interleukin-8, vascular endothelial growth factor, and epidermal growth factor receptor in patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.
abstract: Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) is associated with production of pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokines. We hypothesized that cytokine serum levels will correlate with tumor volume and aggressiveness. We investigated interleukin-8 (IL-8), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in SCCHN. The patient population consisted of normal and irradiated controls: patients with newly diagnosed SCCHN, and patients with recurrent or metastatic disease. Pretreatment sera were studied by ELISA. Serum IL-8 levels, as opposed to VEGF or EGFR, were consistently elevated in patients with recurrent or metastatic disease. The differences in mean serum IL-8, compared to controls, were significant (p=0.02). Serum levels of IL-8 are consistently elevated in patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN and elevated levels may correlate with advanced or aggressive disease. Further, more intensive, study of IL-8 as a biomarker in SCCHN is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Human Monoclonal Antibody Laboratory, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Room 556, 21-27 Burlington Avenue, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Abhay S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Gokhale
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cavacini
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallar
authors.forename: Jarrod
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faucher
authors.forename: Marshall R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Posner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D066246:ErbB Receptors