title: Cytokine evaluation in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the roles of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  AFP and cytokine serum concentrations were determined via EIA or ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 81 patients were included, including 9 healthy controls, 36 LC patients, and 36 HCC patients. Significant differences in AFP, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-18 between the three groups were noted (p < 0.001). AFP was lowest in the healthy subjects, intermediate in LC patients and highest in HCC patients (all p < 0.001). 11-6 and 11-18 concentrations were significantly higher in the HCC group than the other two groups. HCC and LC patients with AFP concentration > 7ng/ml had increased IL-18 concentrations compared to both the other groups p < 0.001). In contrast to previously published studies, TNF-alpha was highest in the healthy group, intermediate in the HCC group, and lowest in the LC group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-18 may be a potential tumour marker in combination with IL-6 and AFP in the diagnosis of HCC, but further research including a larger population of patients is essential. Further research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University Hospital and China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. linda.home99@msa.hinet.net
authors.forename: Ken-Sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Fu-Tsan
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Jen-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chang-Hu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Cheng-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shung-Te
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Tsai-Chung
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins