title: Association of serum and intratumoral cytokine profiles with tumor stage and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio in colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined cytokine profiles and evaluated the association between cytokine levels, pathological stages, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with colorectal cancer (n=20, TNM stage I, II, and III) were enrolled. Levels of nine cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4,-6, -8, -10, -12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] were measured in serum, normal mucosa, and tumor using the Bio-Plex® cytokine assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IL8, GM-CSF and VEGF levels were higher in tumors, whereas the mean IL6 level was higher in serum. Cytokine levels correlated with TNM stage (IL6 and IL8 in serum, and IL8 and VEGF in tumor) and with NLR (IL6 and IL8 in serum, and IL8 in tumor).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different cytokine profiles were observed in serum, normal mucosa, and tumor tissue. The elevation of specific cytokines in sera or tumors reflects features of advanced disease.
authors: Department of Surgery, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young Wan
authors: YW
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Microbiology, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Soo-Ki
authors: SK
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Microbiology, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Cheol Su
authors: CS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Surgery, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ik Yong
authors: IY
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Pathology, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mee Yon
authors: MY
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea namkyuk@yuhs.ac.
authors: Nam Kyu
authors: NK
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Colorectal cancer; IL6; IL8; cytokine; multiplex assay; vascular endothelial growth factor