Proinflammatory
cytokines Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) play a significant role in the pathogenetic processes related to various malignant and inflammatory conditions.
Leukocytosis,
thrombocytosis and increased
acute phase protein levels are part of a systemic inflammatory response. In this study, we measured the concentrations of
IL-1 beta,
IL-6 and
ferritin as well as
hemoglobin,
lactate dehydrogenase (
LDH), C-reactive
protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in 23 patients (male 15, female 8, median age 68 years) with
lung cancer and reactive
thrombocytosis (LCRT), in 27 (male 18, female 9, median age 64 years) with benign inflammatory lung disorder (BILD) and 18 (male 10, female 8, median age 62 years)
lung cancer patients with a normal platelet count (LCNP).
IL-1 beta levels were significantly higher in the three patient groups in comparison with control subjects (P < 0.001) but without significant difference among the three patient groups.
IL-6 was higher in all three patients groups but only in the BILD group it was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference in
IL-6 serum levels was found between the two
lung cancer groups. CRP and LDH were significantly higher in the LCRT group in comparison with the other two patient groups (P < 0.01 and 0.001, respectively), while
ferritin was higher in both
lung cancer groups in comparison with the BILD group (P < 0.001). Our data suggest that in
lung cancer patients, reactive
thrombocytosis is part of the systemic inflammatory reaction for which
IL-1 beta and
IL-6 may be intermediate but not independent mediators.