IL-6 and IL-8 as Prognostic Factors in Peritoneal Fluid of Ovarian Cancer

ABSTRACT

The objectives of the study were to analyze the dosage of a cytokine panel (IL2, IL5, IL6, IL8, IL10, and TNF-α) in the peritoneal fluid and relate the dosage of these cytokines to prognostic para- meters and survival in ovarian cancer. Peritoneal fluid was collected intraopera- tively from 29 patients with primary malignant ovarian neoplasia. Cytokine panel dosing was performed with ELISA. Comparisons of cytokines with prognostic factors were performed using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. ROC curves were used to determine the cutoff value of NLR, PLR, and IL6. Univariate and multivariate analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) were performed (Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression). The differences were considered significant when the value of p < .05. Higher levels of IL-6 were related to a neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >3.18 (p = .04), a platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) >219.23 (p = .0051), CA-125 levels >35 U/mL (p = .0019), stage IIIC (p = .0203), and DFS ≤ 24 months (p = .0267). For IL-8, higher levels were related to PLR > 219.23 (p = .0426), and CA-125 >35 U/mL (p = .0292). In the univariate analysis, IL-6 levels ≥87.23 in peritoneal fluid had a relationship with shorter DFS at significance threshold (p = .05), and with a shorter OS (p = .039). Multivariate survival analysis proved that IL-6 level in the peritoneal fluid was an independent predictor of OS. Therefore, IL-6 and IL-8 in peritoneal lavage were related to poor prognostic factors. These cytokines may represent new biomarkers for ovarian cancer therapies.

KEYWORDS:

• IL-6
• IL-8
• ovarian cancer
• peritoneal fluid
• prognosis

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the funding received from the CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), FUNEPU (Fundação de Ensino e Pesquisa de Uberaba), FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais), and CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brasil).

Declaration of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.