[The relationship between the production of interleukin-6 and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)...

The relationship between the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) determined by immunohistochemical staining using the PC10 clone, and the preoperative serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) value determined by ELISA was examined. The secretion of IL-6 in RCC was also examined immunohistochemically using an anti-IL-6 antibody. The PCNA labeling rate was significantly higher in grade 3 tumors than in grade 1 tumors (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between the other grades or TNM stages. No significant correlation was obtained between the serum level of IL-6 or the positive cell rate of IL-6 and the pathological grade of the RCC. A correlation was observed between the PCNA labeling rate and positive cell rate, and between the serum IL-6 value and CRP or ESR. In conclusion, the secretion of IL-6 was detected in RCC tissue, and was suggested to be a tumor factor responsible for the growth and spread of RCC. The serum IL-6 value is considered to reflect the total secretion of IL-6 produced by the RCC and accessory cells, i.e., monocyte-macrophage lineage cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts.