Prognostic value of cytokines in breast cancer: Correlation with positive hormonal status and obesity

Abstract Background The relation of interleukin 6 (IL6) and molecular subtypes as well as body mass index is not well settled. Little is known about interferon gamma (IFγ) and prognosis of breast cancer. Patients and methods Serum level of IL6 and IFγ was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and correlated with the TNM staging, molecular subtypes, and body mass index. Results Among 78 patients, the median age was 54 years. The majority of the cases were T2 (62.8%), N1 (38.5%), and M0 (89.74%) with stage II being the most common (47.4%). Most females were estrogen receptor (97.9%) and progesterone receptor positive (96.9%) with high Ki67 ≥ 20 (61.5%). Her2 neu positive presented 16.7%. Luminal A and luminal B presented 29.5% and 53.8%, respectively. Obese patients presented by far the majority (82.1%). The median level of IL6 and IFγ was 56.20 ± 28.715 and 76.37 ± 41.54, respectively. IL6 was significantly correlated with tumor size (P = 0.001), nodal involvement (P = >0.0001), the presence of metastasis (P = 0.008), and the stage (P = >0.0001). High level of IL6 was associated with positive estrogen receptor, Her2 neu positive, luminal A, and being obese (P = 0.09, 0.07, 0.06, and 0.05, respectively). High IFγ was only associated with lower nodal burden being significantly higher in N1 than in N3 (118.15 ± 31.07 vs 76.37 ± 44.46, P = 0.01) and early stage (P = 0.02). Conclusions IL6 level was correlated to the initial staging, hormonal status, being Her2 positive, and obesity. The IFγ level was inversely correlated IL6 regarding the nodal status (P = 0.05).