title: Evaluation of serum procalcitonin and interleukin-6 levels as markers of liver metastasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are established markers of tissue inflammation and injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible correlation of PCT and IL-6 with liver metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of fifteen healthy controls (group A), twenty-one patients with solid tumors without metastases (group B), eleven patients with liver metastasis only (group C) and eleven patients with generalized metastatic disease (group D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum PCT levels were significantly increased in group D compared to groups A (p<0.001) and B (p=0.004), but no difference was observed in PCT levels between groups C and B or C and D. IL-6 serum levels were markedly elevated in group C compared to group A (p<0.001) or to groups B (p<0.001) and D (p=0.02). A positive correlation was observed between PCT and IL-6 serum levels (r=0.357, p=0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCT levels are related to disease stage in cancer patients, whereas IL-6 concentration seems to be a more specific marker of liver metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Athens University, School of Nursing ICU at KAT Hospital, 20 Velouhiou Str, Aharnes 136 71, Athens, Greece. vickym@hol.gr
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matzaraki
authors.forename: Krystallenia I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Alexandraki
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venetsanou
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piperi
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Myrianthefs
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malamos
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.forename: Stelios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karatzas
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diamanti-Kandarakis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baltopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide