An exploratory study of inflammatory cytokines as prognostic biomarkers in patients with ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We measured the serum concentration of a panel of inflammatory cytokines and evaluated their association with circulating proangiogenic biomarkers and with outcome in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).


METHODS
We collected serum samples from 36 patients with PDAC, 9 patients with chronic pancreatitis, and 22 healthy volunteers as a control. Inflammatory cytokines and proangiogenic biomarkers were measured using the multianalyte xMAP array and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate 19-9 by immunoassay.


RESULTS
Patients with PDAC had higher circulating levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) than those of patients with pancreatitis or healthy individuals and higher levels of IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) compared with those of healthy individuals. In patients with PDAC, circulating IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 correlated with serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor; circulating IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α correlated with carbohydrate 19-9; and IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α correlated with CEA levels. Circulating IL-8, TNF-α, and CEA; tumor stage; and lymph node metastases were associated with a poor outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this exploratory study indicate that inflammatory cytokines should be pursued as potential prognostic biomarkers as well as targets for therapy in larger studies in PDAC.
Center of Digestive Disease and Liver Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
Simona O
SO
Dima
Cristiana
C
Tanase
Radu
R
Albulescu
Vlad
V
Herlea
Mihaela
M
Chivu-Economescu
Raluca
R
Purnichescu-Purtan
Traian
T
Dumitrascu
Dan G
DG
Duda
Irinel
I
Popescu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016753:Interleukin-10