Serum interleukin-6 levels in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma compared to gastric and pancreatic cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a major role in inflammatory processes and various malignancies. Serum IL-6 levels from patients with gastric MALT lymphoma, gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer was investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The serum 11-6 levels were obtained in a total of 86 patients. A two-tailed Mann-Whitney-test was performed to compare the results. A p-level <0.05 was deemed statistically significant.

RESULTS:

In lymphoma patients, the mean IL-6 levels were 12.633 pg/ml (SD 10.465). The levels for gastric cancer were 6.324 pg/ml (SD 11.497) and 27.4 pg/ml (SD 86.272) for pancreatic cancer. A comparison between MALT lymphoma and gastric cancer revealed a significant difference (p=0.0030), while no difference was found between MALT lymphoma and pancreatic cancer. The 11-6 levels, however, were higher in pancreatic cancer than gastric cancer (p =0.0040).

CONCLUSION:

Our results might reflect a greater importance of IL-6 in the development and growth of MALT lymphoma and, possibly, pancreatic cancer than in gastric cancer.

• Authors: Rupert Bartsch, Stefan Woehrer, Markus Raderer, Michael Hejna
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) 2006 Jul-Aug Vol. 26 Issue 4B Pg. 3187-90 ISSN: 0250-7005 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 16886655 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-6

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone (immunology)
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (immunology)
• Stomach Neoplasms (immunology)