Comparison Between Clinical Significance of Serum Proinflammatory Protein Interleukin-6 and Classic Tumor Markers Total PSA, Free PSA and Free/Total PSA Prior to Prostate Biopsy

Abstract

The aim of the study was to clarify whether serum levels of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) could be a useful marker in prostate diseases. Serum IL-6 was determined prior to prostate biopsy procedure in 82 patients with prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa), 25 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 24 patients with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and 17 patients with chronic prostatitis. Serum IL-6 levels were compared with total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA) and the free/total ratio (f/tPSA) serum levels. Statistically significant difference was not found in serum IL-6 levels among the four groups (p=0.088). However, the patients with poorly differentiated PCa with Gleason score (GS) 4+3=7 and >7 had significantly higher serum IL-6 levels than the patients with moderately differentiated PCa with GS 3+4=7 and <7 (p=0.007). The findings suggest that serum IL-6 level might be a potentially useful marker for poorly differentiated PCa.