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Updated: Sep 3, 2026
An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Published on: September 19, 2013
Interleukin-6: a candidate mediator of human prostate cancer morbidity
D A Twillie1, M A Eisenberger, M A Carducci
1Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
Objectives:
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is evaluated as a candidate mediator of morbidity in patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Methods:
IL-6 concentration is measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) in the ejaculate plasma of healthy men, in primary culture of prostate epithelial cells, in human prostate cancer cell line cultures and SCID mouse xenografts, and in the plasma of 73 men with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Results:
High levels of IL-6 secretion are found in the normal human ejaculate, in prostate epithelial primary culture, and in three of four anaplastic, androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell lines tested. In contrast, the hormone-responsive and PSA-secreting cell lines and the hormone-independent line PPC-1 do not secrete detectable levels of IL-6 by ELISA: The acquisition of a p53 mutation in LNCaP-GW and PPC-1 is not sufficient to confer the phenotype of high IL-6 secretion. Seventy-three men with well-characterized, advanced, hormone refractory prostate cancer prior to suramin therapy are tested for incidence of abnormal circulating levels of IL-6. Plasma IL-6 levels have a bimodal distribution, with the upper quartile of patients having abnormal levels from 9 to 61 pg/mL. A direct comparison of the high and low serum IL-6 groups show that elevated IL-6 levels are strongly correlated with objective measures of morbidity: decreased hematocrit, hemoglobin, and serum cholesterol, and increased white blood cell count and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels all in the absence of clinical infection.
Conclusions:
These data show that IL-6 is a prostate exocrine gene product, a candidate mediator of prostate cancer morbidity, and a candidate marker of disease activity for prospective clinical testing.
Insights
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is linked to prostate cancer morbidity. High IL-6 levels in patients with metastatic prostate cancer correlate with increased disease activity and poorer health markers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prostate cancer is a significant health concern, and understanding its mediators is crucial.
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine with diverse biological roles, including inflammation and cell growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a potential mediator of morbidity in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
- To investigate IL-6 production in various prostate tissue and cell models.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure IL-6 concentrations.
- IL-6 was quantified in ejaculate plasma, prostate epithelial cell cultures, prostate cancer cell lines, and patient plasma.
- Seventy-three patients with advanced, hormone-refractory prostate cancer were analyzed.
Main Results:
- High IL-6 secretion was observed in normal ejaculate and prostate epithelial cells, but varied in cancer cell lines.
- Elevated plasma IL-6 levels in patients showed a strong correlation with increased morbidity markers.
- These markers included decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin, and increased white blood cell count and lactate dehydrogenase.
Conclusions:
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a prostate exocrine gene product.
- IL-6 is a candidate mediator of prostate cancer morbidity.
- IL-6 shows potential as a marker for disease activity in clinical settings.
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