Serum interleukin 6 in breast cancer patients of different clinical stages and metastatic sites

Abstract AR

Objective: InterleuMn 6 is pleiotropic, proinflammatory cytokine that may be helpful in the initial assessment of breast cancer growth and monitoring tumor progression, recurrence, and metastasis.

Methods: Serum interleukin 6 levels were evaluated in women with breast cancer at different clinical stages and metastatic sites and controls using the ELISA technique.

Results : Our results revealed significantly higher serum interleukin 6 levels in breast cancer patients compared to a healthy control group (P<0.05) and a direct association with different clinical stages.

Serum interleukin 6 levels were significantly higher in metastatic breast cancer than with local recurrence (P<0.05).

Higher detectable levels ofIL6 were found in patients with liver and numerous metastatic sites than in those with a single metastasis in bone, brain, or lung.

Conclusion: These data suggest that 1L6 level may be a useful discriminative factor separating healthy controls and breast cancer patients, and patients with local recurrences or metastatic disease.