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. 2018 Apr;38(2):94-102.
doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-1530.

IFN-γ and other serum cytokines in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

F Bussu  1 , C Graziani  2 , R Gallus  3 , A Cittadini  4 , J Galli  3 , E DE Corso  3 , G DI Cintio  3 , M Corbi  4 , G Almadori  3 , A Boninsegna  4 , G Paludetti  3 , A Sgambato  4
Affiliations

IFN-γ and other serum cytokines in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

F Bussu et al. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2018 Apr.

Abstract
in English, Italian

Altered immune responses have been reported in head and neck cancer, and some of these responses have been associated with poor clinical outcomes. A multiple-array technology platform was used to simultaneously evaluate the levels of 25 cytokines. Pre-treatment serum levels were evaluated in 31 HNSCC patients and 6 healthy controls. The levels of 8 cytokines, specifically IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IFN-γ and IP-10, were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Among cancer patients we observed lower levels of IFN-γ and IL-7 in cases with nodal metastases compared to those with cN0 disease. We observed increases in the levels of some serum cytokines in HNSCC patients, as well as reductions in selected cytokines associated with regional progression. These findings provide an intriguing perspective on the development and validation of novel markers for follow-up evaluations and predictions of regional spreading in HNSCC patients.

IFN-γ e altre citochine sieriche nei carcinomi squamocellulari della testa e del collo.

Riassunto: È noto che nelle neoplasie della testa e del collo vi siano delle alterazioni della risposta immune, ed alcune di tali alterazioni sono state associate ad un peggioramento prognostico. Abbiamo utilizzato una piattaforma con una tecnologia multi-array per valutare simultaneamente i valori di 25 citochine nel siero di 31 pazienti, affetti da carcinomi squamosi della testa e del collo prima del trattamento, e di 6 controlli sani. I livelli di 8 citochine, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IFN-γ ed IP-10, sono risultati significativamente più elevati nei pazienti che nei controlli. Tra i pazienti i casi con metastasi linfonodali mostravano livelli significativamentre inferiori di IFN-γ ed IL-7 rispetto ai casi cN0. Pertanto alcune citochine tendono ad essere più elevate nei soggetti affetti da carcinomi squamocellulari della testa e del collo, ma nel contesto di tale gruppo di pazienti si osserva un calo specifico di alcune citochine in caso di metastasi linfonodali. Tali dati aprono prospettive interessanti soprattutto ai fini di una miglior definizione del rischio di metastasi/recidive linfonodali con implicazioni sia in termini di impostazione terapeutica che di follow up.

Keywords: Cytokines; Head and neck SCC; IFN-γ; Inflammation; Nodal metastasis; Predictive factors.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Box plots of 8 cytokines (for which the levels were significantly higher in sera from patients (p), compared to controls (c). P-values were obtained with a two-sided t-test.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
When compared with controls, IL-6 serum levels were significantly higher in laryngeal but not in oral SCC patients; IP-10 levels were significantly higher only in oral SCC patients.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Cytokine levels that correlated significantly with the numeric N score (on the left) and/or the nodal status (on the right). Statistical significance is indicated by asterisks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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