Interleukin-18 and -10 may be associated with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

Abstract

Reports on the expression of interleukin (IL)-10 in breast cancer are rare. The present study investigated the correlation between IL-18 and -10 in breast cancer, and assessed their clinical significance. Breast cancer (n=104) and breast fibroadenoma (n=31) tissues that were surgically removed and pathologically confirmed at Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (Jinan, China) between November 2016 and January 2019 were collected. The expression of IL-18 and -10 was observed via immunohistochemistry. Breast cancer tissues were positive for IL-18 expression, which was primarily located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. A significant difference in IL-18 expression was observed between breast cancer and fibroadenoma tissues (75.0 vs. 19.4%; P<0.001). IL-10 was expressed in breast cancer tissues and primarily located in the cytoplasm. Breast cancer tissues showed a significantly higher level of IL-10 expression compared with breast fibroadenoma tissues (78.8 vs. 22.6%; P<0.001). The regions of positive IL-18 and -10 expression were consistent. Tissues with positive expression of IL-18 and/or -10 had a significantly higher rate of lymph node metastasis than those with negative expression (IL-18: 67.9 vs. 42.3%; P=0.035; and IL-10: 67.1 vs. 40.9%; P=0.047). In conclusion, IL-18 is highly expressed in breast cancer and correlates positively with IL-10. Both IL-18 and -10 may correlate positively with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.

Keywords: correlation analysis; immunohistochemistry; immunotherapy; lymph node metastasis.

Figure 1.

Hematoxylin and eosin staining of breast cancer and breast fibroadenoma tissues (magnification, ×200). (A) Breast cancer tissue. (B) Breast fibroadenoma tissue.

Figure 2.

IL-18 expression in tumor tissues (immunohistochemical staining magnification, ×200). In breast cancer tissue, the positive expression of IL-18 (arrows) was located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm, with intensities of (A) 1+, (B) 2+ and (C) 3+. (D) Negative or weakly positive expression of IL-18 was observed in the majority of breast fibroadenoma tissues. (E) The positive expression rate of IL-18 in breast cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in breast fibroadenoma tissues. ***P<0.001 vs. breast fibroadenoma. BF, breast fibroadenoma; BC, breast cancer; IL, interleukin.

Figure 3.

IL-10 expression in tumor tissues (immunohistochemical staining, ×100 magnification). In breast cancer tissue, the positive expression of IL-10 (arrows) was mainly located in the cytoplasm with staining intensities of (A) 1+, (B) 2+ and (C) 3+. (D) Negative or weakly positive expression of IL-18 was observed in the majority of breast fibroadenoma tissues. (E) The positive expression rate of IL-10 in breast cancer was significantly higher than that in breast fibroadenoma. ***P<0.001 vs. breast fibroadenoma. BF, breast fibroadenoma; BC, breast cancer; IL, interleukin.

Figure 4.

Expression of IL-18 is positively correlated with that of IL-10 in breast cancer according to Spearman's correlation analysis. IL, interleukin.

Figure 5.

Association of IL-18 and IL-10 positive expression with lymph node metastasis in breast cancer (immunohistochemical staining, ×200 magnification). (A) Relatively high expression of IL-18 (arrow) in patients with lymph node metastasis. (B) Relatively low expression of IL-18 in patients with non-lymph node metastasis. (C) Compared with patients with negative IL-18 expression, patients with positive IL-18 expression showed a higher lymph node metastasis rate. (D) Relatively high expression of IL-10 (arrow) in patients with lymph node metastasis. (E) Relatively low expression of IL-10 in patients without lymph node metastasis. (F) Compared with patients with negative IL-10 expression, patients with positive IL-10 expression showed a higher lymph node metastasis rate. *P<0.05 vs. patients with negative expression. IL, interleukin.