Interleukin 18 expression in the primary breast cancer tumour tissue

To investigate the presence and expression levels of the IL-18 in the primary breast cancer tissue in relation to the unchanged breast tissue in same patients and the breast tissue in patients with benign breast disease, as well as the correlation between the IL-18 expression levels and pathohistological factors, including the correlation between IL-18 expression and the estrogens and progesterone receptor status.

This prospective randomized study was conducted at the Policlinic for Laboratory Diagnostics of the University Clinical Centre of Tuzla. 50 patients with invasive ductal breast cancer and 20 patients with benign breast diseases were included in the study. The tree-step immunohistochemical staining was used for testing the levels of IL-18 expression and hormone receptor status.

IL-18 was present in the breast cancer tumour, in the surrounding unchanged tissue of the same patients and in the breast tissue of patients with benign breast tumour and other benign breast disease. The expression of this interleukin was significantly higher in breast cancer tumour tissue as compared to its expression in surrounding unchanged tissue of the same patients (p < 0.05), whereas IL-18 expression was not significantly higher in breast cancer tumours compared to its expression in breast tissue of the patients with benign breast diseases (p = 0.057). There was no significant correlation between IL-18 expression and the lymph node status, and between IL-18 expression and the pathohistological factors.

The results suggest possible involvement of IL-18 in complex mechanisms of breast carcinogenesis.