Interleukin 16 expression changes in association with ovarian malignant transformation.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Long-term unresolved inflammation has been suggested as a risk factor for the development of various malignancies. The goal of this study was to examine whether the expression of interleukin (IL)-16, a proinflammatory cytokine, changes in association with ovarian cancer (OVCA) development.

STUDY DESIGN:

In an exploratory study, changes in IL-16 expression in association with OVCA development and progression were determined using ovarian tissues and serum samples from healthy subjects (n = 10) and patients with benign (n = 10) and malignant ovarian tumors at early (n = 8) and late (n = 20) stages. In the prospective study, laying hens, a preclinical model of spontaneous OVCA, were monitored (n = 200) for 45 weeks with serum samples collected at 15-week interval. Changes in serum levels of IL-16 relative to OVCA development were examined.

RESULTS:

The frequency of IL-16-expressing cells increased significantly in patients with OVCA (P < .001) compared to healthy subjects and patients with benign ovarian tumors. The concentration of serum IL-16 was higher in patients with benign tumors (P < .05) than in healthy subjects and increased further in patients with early-stage (P < .05) and late-stage (P < .03) OVCA. Increase in tissue expression and serum levels of IL-16 in patients with early and late stages of OVCA were positively correlated with the increase in ovarian tumor-associated microvessels. Prospective monitoring showed that serum levels of IL-16 increase significantly (P < .002) even before ovarian tumors become grossly detectable in hens.

CONCLUSION:

This study showed that tissue expression and serum levels of IL-16 increase in association with malignant ovarian tumor development and progression.

• Authors: Aparna Yellapa, Pincas Bitterman, Sameer Sharma, Alfred S Guirguis, Janice M Bahr, Sanjib Basu, Jacques S Abramowicz, Animesh Barua
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 210 Issue 3 Pg. 272.e1-10 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1097-6868 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24380743 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Interleukin-16

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Chickens
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Interleukin-16 (blood, genetics, metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Ovarian Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Ovary (metabolism, pathology)