Intratumoral interleukin-6 predicts ascites formation in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: A potential tool for close monitoring.
BACKGROUND
The implication of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is well documented. Accordingly, the clinicopathological significance of this cytokine in patients' ascites fluid or serum has largely been investigated. Since the main source of IL-6 secreted into the biological fluids is the tumor tissue, this study was designed to investigate the status and possible clinical relevance of the IL-6 expression in an array of EOC tissue specimens.


METHODS
Tissue samples obtained from ninety-eight consecutive patients with EOC were studied using immunohistochemistry. Clinicopathological characteristics and treatment related factors were collected from patient files. The relationship between the expression of the protein of interest and the study endpoints of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. For evaluating the predictive value of IL-6, logistic regression and cox proportional hazards models were employed.


RESULTS
An upregulation of IL-6 expression was observed in EOC tissues as compared with the normal samples (p < 0.0001). As regards the clinical relevance, IL-6 failed to predict OS, DFS and response to the platinum-based chemotherapy in EOC patients. In multivariate analysis, however, IL-6 was identified as an independent predictive factor for the development of post-treatment ascites (p:0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
Having the capability to predict the ascites formation, IL-6 might serve as a biomarker and a useful tool in EOC for monitoring purposes. IL-6 targeting for the prevention of the ascites development is a potential avenue for further investigation.
Department of Surgery, St George Hospital, The University of New South Wales, Gray Street, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia. samar.masoumi@gmail.com.
Samar
S
Masoumi-Moghaddam
Department of Surgery, St George Hospital, The University of New South Wales, Gray Street, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia. dr.afshin.amini@gmail.com.
Afshin
A
Amini
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. George Hospital, The University of New South Wales, Gray Street, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia. ai_qunw@yahoo.com.
Ai-Qun
AQ
Wei
Department of Gynecology Oncology, St George Hospital, The University of New South Wales, Gray Street, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia. g.robertson@unsw.edu.au.
Gregory
G
Robertson
Department of Surgery, St George Hospital, The University of New South Wales, Gray Street, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia. david.morris@unsw.edu.au.
David L
DL
Morris
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001201:Ascites / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002945:Cisplatin