title: Serum cytokines and cancer in involuntary weight loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 may be associated with involuntary weight loss in patients with and without cancer. However, results of previous studies have been conflicting. We evaluated patients who had involuntary weight loss to determine cytokine levels and the correlation of these cytokines with weight loss, the association with inflammation, and the potential for use in cancer diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 290 consecutive patients with involuntary weight loss (74 patients [26%] with cancer and 216 patients [74%] without cancer), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum levels of C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher ESR and levels of C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were associated with cancer. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 did not correlate with the amount of weight loss. In multivariable analysis, only ESR was associated with cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with involuntary weight loss, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were associated with cancer but were not weight loss mediators.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Colentina University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. cbaicus@clicknet.ro
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baicus
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caraiola
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rimbas
authors.forename: Ruxandra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patrascu
authors.forename: Anda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baicus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha