Evaluation of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and human hepatocyte growth factor as tumor markers for hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the most important tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous reports indicated that HCC was also associated with increased levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). This study investigated the role of these cytokines as tumor markers for HCC.


METHODS
A total of 128 adults were prospectively enrolled and categorized into four groups: normal subjects (n=29), chronic hepatitis B or C (n=50), non-HCC tumors (n=23) and HCC (n=26). Serum AFP, IL-6, IL-10 and HGF levels were determined in all subjects.


RESULTS
The expression of IL-6 or IL-10 (> or =3 pg/ml), or high level of HGF (>1000 pg/ml) or AFP (>20 ng/ml) was observed in only 0-3% of normal subjects. Patients with HCC more frequently had higher IL-6 and IL-10 levels (p<0.05), whereas HGF levels in HCC patients were not significantly elevated compared to patients with chronic hepatitis or non-HCC tumors. Among patients with low (<20 ng/ml) AFP level, IL-6 or IL-10 expression was significantly associated with the existence of HCC (p<0.05). Patients with large (>5 cm) HCC more often had increased IL-6, IL-10 or AFP levels (p values all <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 are frequently elevated in patients with HCC but not in benign liver disease or non-HCC tumors. IL-6 and IL-10 may help identify a subset of HCC patients with low AFP level, and may serve as complementary tumor markers in these patients.
Hsia
C-Y
CY
Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Huo
T-I
TI
Chiang
S-Y
SY
Lu
M-F
MF
Sun
C-L
CL
Wu
J-C
JC
Lee
P-C
PC
Chi
C-W
CW
Lui
W-Y
WY
Lee
S-D
SD
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor