The circulating inflammatory profile and tumour localisation in patients with pancreatic cancer

Introduction
Pancreatic cancer represents one of the greatest challenges in oncology. It is often diagnosed at a stage when treatment options are already limited. Inflammation is one of the key factors influencing the dynamics of pancreatic cancer development and progression.

Aim of the research
The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the location of pancreatic cancer and the levels of selected inflammatory cytokines, and to examine the differences in the concentration of these cytokines depending on the location of the tumour. We also assessed the diagnostic utility of inflammatory cytokines by conducting ROC curve analysis, as well as the correlations of cytokines with selected clinicopathological parameters and with the results of selected laboratory tests.

Material and methods
Concentrations of 37 cytokines: CTACK, eotaxin, basic FGF, G-CSF, GRO-, HGF, IL-1, IL-1ra, IL-2R, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-16, IL-17, IL-18, IP-10, LIF, MCP-1, M-CSF, MIF, MIG, MIP-1, MIP-1, -NGF, PDGF-BB, RANTES, SCF, SCGF-, SDF-1, TNF-, TNF-, and TRIAL was measured in the venous blood of 42 patients with pancreatic cancer.

Results
Eotaxin levels (p = 0.002), basic FGF (p = 0.316), G-CSF (p = 0.0408), IL-2R (p = 0.0487), IL-6 (p = 0.0001), IL-9 (p = 0.0002), IL-17 (p = 0.0153), IP-10 (p = 0.0228), MIP-1 (p = 0.0117), MIP-1 (p = 0.0021), RANTES (p = 0.0228), SCGF- (p = 0.223), TNF- (p = 0.0398), TNF- (p = 0.002) was statistically significantly higher in the patient group with tumours located in the head compared to patients with tumours in the body and tail of the pancreas. ROC analysis demonstrated that cytokines may be useful in differentiating the location of pancreatic cancer. There is a correlation between cytokine concentrations and the location of pancreatic cancer.

Conclusions
Cytokines such as FGF, G-CSF, IL-2R, IL-6, IL-9, IL-17, IP-10, MIP-1, MIP-1, RANTES, SCGF-, TNF-, and TNF- differentiate patients with cancer located in the head of the pancreas from patients with a distal location of this cancer with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.