IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines are associated with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels among patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate at the Uganda Cancer Institute

BACKGROUND: The possible clinical application of specific cytokines and chemokines contributing to tumorigenesis and the clinical outcome of several cancers has been reported. However, less invasive and easily applicable biomarkers in prostate cancer diagnosis and prognostication are still lacking. This study assessed the levels of plasma cytokines in prostate cancer patients as potential biomarkers for noninvasive early diagnosis. METHODS: The plasma levels of nine cytokines, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-2, M-CSF, IL-12 and IFN-α, were detected by Luminex(©) liquid array-based multiplexed immunoassays in 56 prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy and radiotherapy and 27 normal healthy controls. RESULTS: Levels of plasma proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 were markedly increased in prostate cancer patients compared with controls. There was, however, no significant difference in the concentrations of all cytokines in prostate cancer patients compared with controls. Increasing levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly associated with high levels of plasma prostate-specific antigen (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 are potential biomarkers for prostate cancer pathogenesis and could serve as markers of disease progression.