title: Pre-treatment serum inflammatory cytokines as survival predictors of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving chemoradiotherapy.
abstract: The present study aimed to examine the predictability of pre-treatment serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α for determining the outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) assigned for chemoradiotherapy. A total of 35 patients with NPC were subjected to clinical examination and evaluation of performance status using Karnofsky scoring. Nasopharyngoscopy was performed for evaluation and to obtain a biopsy. Blood samples were obtained pre- and post-treatment for polymerase chain reaction quantitative estimation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA plasma load and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for estimation of serum cytokines. All patients received chemoradiotherapy and were followed-up for 2 years. Cervical lymphadenopathy and recurrent attacks of epistaxis are the most common presenting symptoms. Treatment significantly decreased pre-treatment plasma EBV DNA load and serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and increased serum IL-1β levels. Clinical staging and EBV DNA plasma load revealed positively significant correlation with pre-treatment serum levels of both IL-6 and TNF-α, while revealed negative significant correlation with serum IL-1β levels. The 2-year survival rate was negatively significantly correlated with pre-treatment levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and EBV DNA viral load, while it was positively significantly correlated with pre-treatment performance scores and serum IL-1β levels. Statistical analyses defined high pre-treatment serum IL-6 levels as a significant specific predictor for high mortality rate. It was demonstrated that NPC was associated with high pre-treatment plasma EBV DNA load and serum cytokines, and chemoradiotherapy significantly reduced these high levels. High pre-treatment serum IL-6 level was a significant specific predictor for high mortality rate. Increased post-treatment serum levels of IL-1β indicated good therapeutic response and most probably a high survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Benda University, Benha 13511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Adel F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Al-Kholy
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Benda University, Benha 13511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Omminea A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Benda University, Benha 13511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mamdouh Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Abadier
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Cairo 11811, Egypt.
authors.forename: Manal M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hassaan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Shindy
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Dalia M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Nor El-Dien
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasaneen
keywords: chemoradiotherapy; inflammatory cytokines; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; plasma EB viral load; survival rate