title: Monitoring of IL-10 in the serum of patients with advanced ovarian cancer: results from a prospective pilot-study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The fact that ovarian cancer remains confined to the peritoneal cavity even in advanced stages has allowed us to surmise that local immunosuppressive factors could be involved in the tumor biology of ovarian cancer. In this context, IL-10 can be one of the key factors. By studying the kinetics of IL-10 concentrations prior to and after surgery, this study attempts to reveal once more the ability of tumor micro-environment to produce IL-10. Some studies indicate that IL-10 concentration correlates with the tumor burden and can thus predict the surgical outcome. Data concerning this aim from patients with ovarian cancer do not seem to exist.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, serum blood was collected from 27 patients, one day prior to surgery as well as 24h, 4 and 8 days after surgery. The concentration of IL-10 was determined using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While IL-10 levels rise within the first day post-OP, they are found to be reduced significantly when measured at later time points. IL-10 levels also correlate statistically significantly with the tumor grade, with lower IL-10 levels observed in well-differentiated and higher IL-10 levels in undifferentiated or only poorly differentiated tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-10 expression levels appear to be a good surrogate marker for tumor grading. If validated, this may in future contribute to the understanding of the biology stage cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Charité Medical University of Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, Mittelallee 9, D-13353 Berlin, Germany. amustea@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mustea
authors.forename: Elena-Ioana
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Braicu
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koensgen
authors.forename: Shuhui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stamatian
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lichtenegger
authors.forename: Frank Chih-Kang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Radoslav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chekerov
authors.forename: Jalid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sehouli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016753:Interleukin-10