INTERLEUKIN-6 AND INTERLEUKIN-10 AS BIOMARKERS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA PROGRESSION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF...

Area of Science:

• Hepatology and Oncology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary cause of death in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).
• Understanding factors influencing HCC progression is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nutritional status, cytokine profiles (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), liver function tests, and survival in patients with LC and HCC.
• To identify potential biomarkers for HCC progression and associated clinical parameters.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 47 patients (21 LC, 26 LC with HCC).
• Nutritional assessment via anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance, and dietary recall.
• Cytokine and biochemical marker analysis (AST, ALT, albumin, prealbumin); survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression.

Main Results:

• HCC patients had higher IL-6 levels, correlating with advanced disease (P=0.035).
• Elevated IL-10 in early-stage HCC (BCLC A) vs. BCLC B (P=0.006).
• Significantly higher AST/ALT in HCC patients indicated greater liver damage; HCC patients had shorter survival (P=0.0172).

Conclusions:

• IL-6 and IL-10 show promise as biomarkers for HCC progression.
• Biochemical and nutritional profiles offer insights into LC and HCC.
• Findings may guide future therapeutic strategies for HCC.