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Serum Interleukine-6 Concentration, But Not Interleukine-18, is Associated with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Inflammation has been linked to various steps in tumorigenesis. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-18 are two inflammatory cytokines whose serum concentrations are elevated in several types of cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in some studies. This study was designed to analyze the serum concentrations of these cytokines in Iranian HNSCC patients. Serum IL-6 and IL-18 concentrations were assayed by ELISA commercial kits in 65 untreated patients and 20 healthy volunteers. Serum IL-6 concentration was significantly increased in patients compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.000). IL-6 concentration increased as the tumor stage progressed, and a significant difference appeared between stage IV vs. stage I/II/III (p = 0.03) disease. Although serum IL-18 concentration was higher in patients than in healthy individuals, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). Moreover, there was no association between serum IL-18 concentration and tumor stage (p = 0.47). A significant difference was observed in serum IL-18 concentration according to the gender with higher IL-18 concentration in male patients (p = 0.01). In conclusion, serum concentration of IL-6 might correlate with the stage of tumor progression in Iranian HNSCC patients. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are required to exclude the possible minor correlation of serum IL-18 concentration with tumor stage.

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Abbreviations

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

HNSCC:

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

IL:

Interleukin

IFN-γ:

Interferon-gamma

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-alfa

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research (Grant numbers: 85-2838 and 85-2840) and by the Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research (Grant number. ICR-82-93).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, PO BOX 71345-3119, Shiraz, Iran

    Zahra Mojtahedi, Seyed Mohammad Bagher Abtahi, Mohammad Ali Ghasemi, Mohammad Javad Fattahi & Abbas Ghaderi

  2. Department of ENT, Khalili hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Bijan Khademi & Seyed Basir Hashemi

  3. Department of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Abbas Ghaderi

Authors
  1. Zahra Mojtahedi
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  2. Bijan Khademi
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  3. Seyed Basir Hashemi
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  4. Seyed Mohammad Bagher Abtahi
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  5. Mohammad Ali Ghasemi
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  6. Mohammad Javad Fattahi
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  7. Abbas Ghaderi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abbas Ghaderi.

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Mojtahedi, Z., Khademi, B., Hashemi, S.B. et al. Serum Interleukine-6 Concentration, But Not Interleukine-18, is Associated with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 17, 7–10 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-010-9261-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-010-9261-y

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