Clinical and Prognostic Biomarker Value of Blood-Circulating Inflammatory Cytokines in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Shadi Chamseddine, University of Texas, Houston; Yehia I. Mohamed, University of Texas, Houston; Sunyoung S. Lee, University of Texas, Houston; James C. Yao, University of Texas, Houston; Zishuo Ian Hu, University of Texas, Houston; Hop S. Tran Cao, University of Texas, Houston; Lianchun Xiao, University of Texas, Houston; Ryan Sun, University of Texas, Houston; Jeffrey S. Morris, University of Pennsylvania; Rikita I. Hatia, University of Texas, Houston; Manal Hassan, University of Texas, Houston; Dan G. Duda, Harvard University; Maria Diab, Emory University; Amr Mohamed, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center; Ahmed Nassar, Emory University; Saumil Data, University of Texas, Houston; Hesham M. Amin, University of Texas, Houston; Ahmed Omar Kaseb, University of Texas, Houston
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-08-23
• Publisher: Karger Publishers
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023, Silverchair Publisher
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://doi.org/10.1159/000531870
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Oncology
• Volume: 101
• Issue: 11
• Start Page: 730
• End Page: 737
• Grant/Funding Information: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, SPORE in HCC, Grant #NCI, P50 CA217674-01A1 (to AOK), NCI R01CA260872 (to AOK, HMA, DGD). D.G.D.’s research is also funded through NIH (Grant No. R01CA260857 and R01CA247441) and by Department of Defense PRCRP (Grant No. W81XWH-19–1-0284, W81XWH1910482, and W81XWH-21–1–0738).
• Keywords: Biomarker; Overall survival; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Prognosis; Interleukins
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

Introduction Circulating inflammatory cytokines play critical roles in tumor-associated inflammation and immune responses. Recent data have suggested that several interleukins (ILs) mediate carcinogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the predictive and prognostic value of circulating ILs is yet to be validated. Our study aimed to evaluate the association of the serum ILs with overall survival (OS) and clinicopathologic features in a large cohort of HCC patients. Methods We prospectively collected data and serum samples from 767 HCC patients treated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 2001 and 2014, with a median follow-up of 67.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52.5, 83.3). Biomarker association with OS was evaluated by the log-rank method. Results The median OS in this cohort was 14.2 months (95% CI: 12, 16.1 months). Clinicopathologic features were more advanced, and OS was significantly inferior in patients with high circulating levels of IL1-R1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, IL-16, and IL-18. Conclusion Our study shows that several serum IL levels are valid prognostic biomarker candidates and potential targets for therapy in HCC.