Cytokine patterns in cancer patients: A review of the correlation between interleukin 6 and prognosis

Abstract

Objective: In tumor patients, IL-6 appears to be one component of a consistent cancer-associated cytokine network resulting in both a systemic immune stimulation and a microenvironment of cancer-induced immune suppression that ultimately protects the cancer cells. IL-6 has been associated with prognosis in cancer patients, but so far a systemical analysis has not been carried out. Methods: The present meta-analysis studies the relation between IL-6 serum levels and the prognosis of cancer patients in the available clinical literature of 100 articles published between 1993 and 2013 comprising 11,583 patients. Results: The IL-6 serum level was described as significantly correlating with survival in 82/101 series comprising 85.6% of patients (9917/11,583) with 23 different cancer types. A total of 64 studies dichotomized patient cohorts according to various cut-off IL-6 serum levels: in 59/64 of these series corresponding to 94.5% of the reported patients (7694/8142) significant correlations between IL-6 serum level and survival were seen. The median survival of cancer patients had been determined above various cut-off levels of serum IL-6 in 24 dichotomized studies (26 cohorts). There was a highly significant inverse correlation between median survival of the cohorts with IL-6 serum level above cut-off (1272 patients) and their corresponding IL-6 cut-off values (Spearman R -0,48 p= < 0.001) following a linear regression when both parameters were log-transformed (p < 0.001). A significant correlation between increasing serum IL-6 and tumor stage or metastases was described in 39/44 studies and 91% of published patients (4221/4636) where clinical parameters had been specified. Conclusions: Closely associated with the patient's clinical condition and independent of the cancer histology, the increased IL-6 serum level uniformly appears to correlate with survival as paraneoplastic condition in later cancer stages independent of the cancer type. Modifications of this paraneoplastic immune reaction may offer new therapeutic options in cancer.

The influence of different calorie restriction protocols on serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines and IGF-I levels in female C57BL6 mice: Short term and long term diet effects

“…Interestingly, the soluble receptors of TNF-α (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) inhibit the biologic activity of their ligand and act as antagonists; while the sIL-6R amplifies IL-6-mediated signaling [48]. Nevertheless, IL-6 is produced by many cell lineages, including fibroblasts, muscle cells, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, macrophages, T cells and mast cells [49, 50] . IL-6 can also be produced by adipocytes and adipose-derived stromal cells or stromal vascular fraction (SVF) [51], as well as by cancer cells [49].…”

La interleucina 6 induce transición epitelio-mesénquima en células de cáncer de mama

“…En los cánceres de mama, riñón, próstata y mieloma múltiple se ha correlacionado con mal pronóstico y agresividad tumoral. Estudios recientes sitúan a la IL-6 como un regulador positivo del factor de crecimiento endotelial vascular (VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor) 24,25 . Se ha encontrado que los valores de IL-6 circulante en las pacientes con cáncer de mama son 10 veces mayores que en las mujeres sanas, existiendo una correlación entre los valores más altos de IL-6 y los estadios más avanzados del cáncer de mama 24,26 .…”

Post-Operative Cognitive Dysfunction in Cancer Patients: A Narrative Review

“…This is indicative of influence of cancer on markers of immune system. On the other hand, inflammation and immune dysfunction has been associated in the pathology of cognitive dysfunction [1]. It has been reported that the oncologic treatment like chemotherapy leads to increased levels of cytokines [2].…”

“…The reported incidence of POCD varies due to lack of formal criteria for diagnosis of POCD. The various factors leading to POCD in cancer patients are demographic factors such as advanced age and comorbidities, genetic, immune factors and treatment related of which surgery and anaesthesia play a significant role [1][2][3][4][5].…”