title: Changes of plasma cytokines and chemokines expression level in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after treatment with definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Potential clinical application values of certain cytokines and chemokines that participate in the process of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis have been reported. However, there still lack of biomarkers for a great many of malignancy. This study identified cytokines or chemokines involved in the occurrence and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which might be a biomarker for noninvasive early diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plasma levels of 19 cytokines and chemokines were detected by the luminex liquid array-based multiplexed immunoassays in 39 NPC patients before and after treatment by definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma levels of almost all of the 19 cytokines and chemokines in NPC patients were higher than healthy controls, while only IFN-γ, IL-1b IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α, FKN, IL-12P70, IL-2, IL-5 and IP-10 showed significant differences. However, expression levels of most of the 19 cytokines and chemokines decreased after therapy, especially IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TNF-α, VEGF, IL-17A, IL-2, IL-5 and MIP-1b, have a dramatic decline. Taking together, plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-1b, IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-5 are significantly increased in NPC patients and dramatically decreased after treatment, suggesting these cytokines and chemokines might play important roles in the progress of NPC. More interestingly, the expression level of MPC-1 is significantly associated with clinical stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MCP-1 might involve in the genesis and development process of NPC, which might serve as a noninvasive biomarker for early diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.|Head and Neck Cancer Research, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Cancer Research, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.|Cancer Center, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Yi
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.|Head and Neck Cancer Research, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Kai-Rong
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.|Head and Neck Cancer Research, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.|Head and Neck Cancer Research, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Huan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Cancer Research, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.|Otolaryngology head and neck surgery, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yue-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.|Head and Neck Cancer Research, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foshan Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines