Serum interleukin-10 but not interleukin-6 is related to clinical outcome in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of preoperative serum levels of inter leukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with resectable hepa tocellular carcinoma (HCC). Summary Background Data IL-10 is an immunosuppressive factor and IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a role in host defense mechanisms. Both have been reported to b e related to the disease prognosis in some human solid tumors. Their role i n human HCC has not been investigated. Methods Preoperative serum samples of 67 patients with HCC who under-went potential ly curative resection and 27 normal healthy donors were assayed, Levels of IL-10 and IL-6 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The cl inical significance of serum IL-10 and IL-6 was evaluated and compared with conventional clinicopathologic factors. Results levels of IL-10 and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with HCC tha n in healthy subjects. There was no correlation between IL-10 and IL-6 leve ls. Tumor resection resulted in a decrease in IL-10 and IL-6 levels, On uni variate analysis, patients with high IL-10 levels had a worse disease-free survival, but IL-6 levels had no correlation with the disease-free survival . Multivariate analysis identified IL-10 levels as a predictor of postresec tional outcome, in addition to the well-established clinical risk factors. Conclusions In patients with HCC, the preoperative serum IL-10 level is related to the clinical outcome. IL-10 may play an important role in the progression of HC C.