Levels of circulating soluble receptor activator of NF-κB and interleukins-1 predicting outcome of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Decreasing levels of cytokines are associated with better responses to therapies, while increasing levels are related to progression or recurrence and decreased survival. NF-κB's role in the cell cycle and its ubiquity are only stressed out by the evidence for the importance of activation (aberrant activation in the majority of cancers) of both canonical and non-canonical pathways in advanced basal cell carcinomas (aBCCs), a subset of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). NF-κB acts through its canonical, or classical, form activated by interleukin-1 (IL-1), regulates cytoprotective, innate, and adaptive immune responses. However, NF-κB2 often acts through its non-canonical or alternate pathway. During the two-year study period, we selected 21 patients presenting with aBCCs due to delay in accessing medical attention with an advanced form of BCCs (n = 19) and infiltrative BCCs (n = 2). Initial diagnosis of BCCs of head and neck was made clinically and verified by skin biopsy. Venous blood was drawn and serum was obtained. Samples were collected at baseline and every three days thereafter (days 3, 6, 9, etc. until surgery). Antigenes' quantities (cytokines) were determined by ELISA kits. Initially, the mean value of all cytokine subjects was significantly different related to the control group (P <0.05). Changes in serum levels of circulating soluble receptor activator of NF-κB and interleukins-1 (α and β) were observed following the surgery. Changes in serum levels of circulating soluble receptor activator of NF-κB and interleukins-1 (α and β) are evident throughout our study period and a certain regularity in its dynamics is evident as the follow-up period moves away. It was therefore concluded that measurement of these factors might be useful in predicting the overall outcome of patients with aBCCs. This study highlights the systemic effects of aBCCs, but further studies are required on this topic.

Keywords: advanced basal cell carcinoma (aBCC); facial surgery; locally advanced basal cell carcinoma; pro-inflammatory serum cytokines.

Figure 1.

Scattered plot of serum levels of total-RANKL, IL-1α, and IL-1β at the baseline and in the group of counterpart controls.

Figure 2.

Column diagrams with compared serum levels of total-RANKL, IL-1α, and IL-1β at baseline and the early post-surgery phase (three days). P values <0.05 are denoted between two columns in the set.

Figure 3.

Column diagram with serum levels of total-RANKL, IL-1α, and IL-1β 30 days after surgery.