Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nutritional status in pancreatic cancer patients

Background:Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a multifunctional cy tokine associated with cancer-related cachexia. In this study we evaluated serum levels of TNF-alpha in pancreatic cancer patients and investigated th eir relationship;Ds:to cachexia. Patients and Methods: Serum TNF-alpha leve ls were determined in 63 patients with pancreatic cancer wing an enzyme imm unoassay specific for human TNF-alpha. Results: Serum TNF-alpha levels were detected in 36.5% of patients. Patients with metastatic disease showed sig nificantly higher positive serum TNF-alpha rate compared to those with non- metastatic disease. Patients with detectable serum TNF-alpha levels had sig nificantly lower body weight and body mass index, lower haematocrit and hae moglobin values, and lower serum fetal protein and albumin levels compared to those with undetectable TNF-alpha levels. Serum TNF-alpha levels were in versely correlated with body weight, body mass index, haematoclit, haemoglo bin, and serum protein and albumin levels. Conclusions: TNF-alpha levels ar e detectable in the serum of pancreatic cancer patients, particularly in th ose with advanced disease, and these levels correlate with poor nutritional status.