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Interleukin-6 Blood Level Is Associated With Circulating Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Prognosis in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

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Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important proinflammatory cytokine that has multiple effects on stimulating inflammation and cell growth. Experimental data suggest that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) induces the systemic production of IL-6 and that IL-6 may stimulate tumor cell growth at metastatic sites. We tested the hypothesis that blood concentrations of IL-6 are associated with the amount of circulating CEA and with prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: CEA and IL-6 concentrations were measured by using enzyme immunoassay in preoperative serum samples from 208 patients with stages I through IV colorectal cancer.

Results: Linear regression analysis showed a significant association between serum values of CEA and IL-6 (r = .544; R2 = .296; P < .001). Patients with stage III and stage IV disease had a significantly higher IL-6 serum concentration than those with stage I and stage II disease. In patients with stages I through III, 5-year survival was 83% in cases with concentrations of IL-6 at 10 pg/ml or less (n = 94) and 56% in cases with IL-6 concentrations of more than 10 pg/ml (n = 54; P = .001; median follow-up time, 46 months). By using multivariate analysis, an IL-6 concentration of more than 10 pg/ml was an independent prognostic factor of survival (relative risk = 1.820; P = .020).

Conclusions: In patients with colorectal cancer, blood concentration of IL-6 is associated with high circulating CEA and advanced stage. Furthermore, an IL-6 concentration of more than 10 pg/ml is an independent negative prognostic marker of survival.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica Generale II, Università di Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy

    Claudio Belluco MD, PhD, Donato Nitti MD, Marylin Frantz BS, Paola Toppan MD, Mario Plebani MD, Mario Lise MD & J. Milburn Jessup MD

  2. Laboratory Medicine (DB, MP), University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Daniela Basso MD

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  1. Claudio Belluco MD, PhD
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  2. Donato Nitti MD
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  3. Marylin Frantz BS
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  4. Paola Toppan MD
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  7. Mario Lise MD
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  8. J. Milburn Jessup MD
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Belluco, C., Nitti, D., Frantz, M. et al. Interleukin-6 Blood Level Is Associated With Circulating Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Prognosis in Patients With Colorectal Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 7, 133–138 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-000-0133-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-000-0133-7

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