Evaluation of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in patients with breast cancer at Menoufia University Hospitals

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the serum level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with breast cancer and to correlate them with the staging of the disease. Background: Breast cancer is a disease that continues to plague women. IL-6 and CRP are found to be elevated in various inflammatory and malignant diseases, and their levels are found to correlate with the extent of the disease. Patients and methods: A total of 39 female patients with breast cancer were identified for the study. Serum level of IL-6 was assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and CRP was measured by means of immunoturbidimetry. The patients were classified into six groups on the basis of the pathological Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) system. Statistical analyses of the data were then processed. Results: Increase in cancer invasion and staging are generally associated with increase in preoperative serum IL-6 and CRP level. IL-6 and CRP level correlate with lymph node metastasis (P > 0.001) and distant metastasis (P > 0.001). Serum IL-6 and CRP level correlate with TNM staging (P > 0.001). Conclusion: The levels of IL-6 and CRP have a positive correlation with the TNM staging system of breast cancer. Hence, IL-6 and CRP could be used as parameters to assess the prognosis of breast cancer patients.