Evaluation of the Clinical Application Value of Cytokine Expression Profiles in the Differential Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Background The significance of tumor-secreted cytokines in tumor development has gained substantial attention. Nevertheless, the precise role of tumor-related inflammatory cytokines in prostate cancer (PCa) remains ambiguous. Objectives To gain deeper insights into the inflammatory response in the process of PCa. Methods A total of 141 cases were collected, including 70 cases of prostate hyperplasia and 9 cases of prostatitis as disease control, 41 cases of postoperative prostate cancer and 21 cases of prostate cancer as PCa group. Additionally, 31 patients undergoing physical examinations during the same period were collected as the healthy control. The levels of 12 inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood samples were analyzed using flow cytometric bead array technology. The levels of total prostate-specific antigen (TPSA) and free prostate-specific antigen (FPSA) in peripheral blood samples were analyzed using electrochemiluminescence technology. Results Our results showed that serum IL-5, IL-6, IL-8 levels were significantly increased in PCa group compared to those in the control group (all p < 0.05). While, the level of IL-2, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12p70, and IFN-α were lower in PCa than in healthy control. The concentration of IL-6 decreased but the concentrations of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-17A increased after surgery, showing significant differences (p < 0.05). The differential upregulation of IL-6 and IL-8 in peripheral blood have diagnostic efficacy in PCa patients. Conclusion The peripheral blood cytokines are closely associated with the occurrence and development of prostate cancer, especially the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 may be useful as potential predictors of PCa diagnosis.