CONCOMITANT MEASUREMENTS OF INTERLEUKIN-6 (IL-6) IN SERUM AND PERITONEAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH BENIGN AND MALIGNANT OVARIAN-TUMORS

The multifunctional cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced by epith elial and mononuclear cells as well as by ovarian carcinoma cells. A p rospective study was initiated to evaluate the clinical significance o f systemic and local measurements of IL-6 concentrations in 67 patient s with ovarian tumors. Eighteen patients who underwent laparotomy for ovarian carcinoma showed elevated levels of IL-6 in the serum as well as in the peritoneal cavity in comparison to patients with benign ovar ian tumors. Furthermore, patients with advanced ovarian cancer, accord ing to Figo-Stages III/IV, demonstrated higher IL-6 levels in the seru m and ascites, respectively, than patients with Figo-Stages I/II refle cting low tumor burden. The results of the study suggest that IL-6 pla ys a key role in tumor-host interaction, particularly, in the possible facilitated spread of ovarian cancer cells.