Expression of interleukin-10 is inversely correlated with distant metastasis of renal cell carcinoma

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an immunomodulative cytokine produced by T cells, B cells, and monocytic cells. The significance of IL-10 and IL-10R expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been well characterized. In this study, we assessed the correlation between IL-10 gene expression and its pathological significance in 44 RCC specimens. The patients with IL-10 gene expression showed a decreased incidence of metastasis compared to those without IL-10 gene expression. The expression of IL-10 was correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A gene expression. These findings suggest that IL-10 gene expression plays some roles in the metastasis of RCC.