title: Evaluation of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and human hepatocyte growth factor as tumor markers for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsia
authors.forename: T-I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: S-Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: M-F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: C-L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: P-C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C-W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: W-Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: S-D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor