title: Clinical significance of tissue expression of interleukin-6 in colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been associated with the development of colorectal cancer, IL-6 expression in cancer tissues has never been elucidated. The role of the tissue expression of IL-6 in colorectal cancer was investigated to identify any prognostic significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty consecutive patients, whose primary lesions had been resected, were studied. Immunoreactivity of IL-6 in cancerous tissue was measured by immunohistochemical staining; the relationships between the positive expression of IL-6 and both clinicopathological factors and survival were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four specimens expressed IL-6, and this expression correlated with an elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, lymph node metastasis, venous invasion and advanced stage (p < 0.05). IL-6 expression correlated with poor survival (p < 0.05) and was an independent predictor of prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because tissue expression of IL-6 correlates with aggressive colorectal cancer behavior, it may be a useful predictor of prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tao-Yuan General Hospital, Department of Health, Taiwan, ROC. young@mail.tygh.gov.tw
authors.forename: Yuan-Chiang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yuan-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chaen
authors.forename: Chi-Pin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6