title: Role of interleukin-23 circulating levels increase in resected colorectal cancer before and after chemotherapy: preliminary data and future perspectives.
abstract: Expression of IL-23, a heterodimeric cytokine involved in the induction of Th17 cells, is increased in human tumors. Although the endogenous IL-23 expression has been reported to promote tumor development and growth, the studies using local and systemic administration of IL-23 have shown that its application at the excessive amount induces antitumor immune responses. IL-23 is, today, considered the key driver of intestinal inflammation and its role in inflammatory responses is tissue-specific. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of circulating levels of IL-23 in patients with resected colorectal cancer (CRC) before and after chemotherapy, respect to healthy controls. Twenty-five patients were enrolled between June 2007 and January 2009, and followed through 2010. All patients underwent chemotherapy, mostly FOLFOX4. Twenty-sex and age-matched healthy donors were recruited as controls. IL-23 serum concentrations, measured by a quantitative enzyme immunoassay technique, were significantly higher in patients with resected CRC (26.02 ± 28.63 pg/ml versus 7.1 ± 6.4 pg/ml, P < 0.001) and after chemotherapy respect to controls (21.74 ± 23.82 pg/ml versus 7.17 ± 6.43 pg/ml, P < 0.001). An increase was documented also before chemotherapy (26.02 ± 28.63 pg/ml versus 21.74 ± 23.82 pg/ml, P = 0.7) but not statistically significant. This work investigated, for the first time, the role of IL-23 in CRC resection and chemotherapy, showing no correlation with the severity of disease, tumor removal, and chemotherapeutic treatment. However, other works are needed to better clarify if IL-23 could be considered a key-molecule in human CRC and a target for tumor treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology, Unit of Integrated Therapies in Oncology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franchina
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Minciullo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colonese
authors.forename: G R R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saitta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spatari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood*; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053759:Interleukin-23; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil