BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine the serum levels of six cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) in treated and untreated breast cancer patients and assess their clinical significance. The correlation of the Th1/Th2 type cytokine levels and the clinicopathologic variables was further evaluated. METHODS: Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) was used to examine the levels of Th1 cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) in serum of 36 untreated and 73 treated breast cancer patients and 51 healthy females as control. RESULTS: In the untreated group, the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5 were significantly higher than in control group (p < 0.05). IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-5, and IL-10 levels were higher in treated group than in untreated group (p < 0.05); IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio of the treated group was higher than the untreated group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the cytokine levels were significantly different in different pTNM stages and lymph node involvement groups. Survival analysis revealed that the IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio, pTNM stage, and lymph node involvement affected the survival of breast cancer patients. The pTNM stage was an independent significant prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer patients presented a Th1/Th2 imbalance and immune function disorder, which correlated with pTNM stage and lymph node involvement. Higher IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio predicted a favorable outcome in breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine the serum levels of six cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) in treated and untreated breast cancerpatients and assess their clinical significance. The correlation of the Th1/Th2 type cytokine levels and the clinicopathologic variables was further evaluated. METHODS: Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) was used to examine the levels of Th1 cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) in serum of 36 untreated and 73 treated breast cancerpatients and 51 healthy females as control. RESULTS: In the untreated group, the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5 were significantly higher than in control group (p < 0.05). IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-5, and IL-10 levels were higher in treated group than in untreated group (p < 0.05); IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio of the treated group was higher than the untreated group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the cytokine levels were significantly different in different pTNM stages and lymph node involvement groups. Survival analysis revealed that the IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio, pTNM stage, and lymph node involvement affected the survival of breast cancerpatients. The pTNM stage was an independent significant prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS:Breast cancerpatients presented a Th1/Th2 imbalance and immune function disorder, which correlated with pTNM stage and lymph node involvement. Higher IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio predicted a favorable outcome in breast cancerpatients.
Authors: Kristen S Purrington; Daniel W Visscher; Chen Wang; Drakoulis Yannoukakos; Ute Hamann; Heli Nevanlinna; Angela Cox; Graham G Giles; Jeanette E Eckel-Passow; Sotiris Lakis; Vassiliki Kotoula; George Fountzilas; Maria Kabisch; Thomas Rüdiger; Päivi Heikkilä; Carl Blomqvist; Simon S Cross; Melissa C Southey; Janet E Olson; Judy Gilbert; Sandra Deming-Halverson; Veli-Matti Kosma; Christine Clarke; Rodney Scott; J Louise Jones; Wei Zheng; Arto Mannermaa; Diana M Eccles; Celine M Vachon; Fergus J Couch Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2016-04-15 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Nadia F Nocera; M Catherine Lee; Lucy M De La Cruz; Cinthia Rosemblit; Brian J Czerniecki Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2016-10-06 Impact factor: 5.810
Authors: Man Feng; Qinli Feng; Yujie Chen; Ge Liu; Zhuanglei Gao; Juan Xiao; Chang Feng Journal: Drug Des Devel Ther Date: 2021-05-27 Impact factor: 4.162