Evaluation of the clinical application value of cytokine expression profiles in the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Background: The significance of tumor-secreted cytokines in tumor development has gained substantial attention. Nevertheless, the precise role of tumor-related inflammatory cytokines in prostate cancer (PCa) remains ambiguous.

Objectives: To gain deeper insights into the inflammatory response in the process of PCa.

Methods: A total of 233 cases were collected, including 80 cases of prostate hyperplasia as disease control, 65 cases of postoperative prostate cancer and 36 cases of prostate cancer as PCa group. Additionally, 52 patients undergoing physical examinations during the same period were collected as the healthy control. The levels of 12 inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood samples were analyzed using flow cytometric bead array technology. The levels of total prostate-specific antigen (TPSA) and free prostate-specific antigen (FPSA) in peripheral blood samples were analyzed using electrochemiluminescence technology.

Results: Our findings revealed significant increases in serum IL-8 levels in PCa group compared to the healthy control group. Additionally, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-12p70 levels were markedly elevated in the PCa group compared to the disease control group (all p < 0.05). Conversely, the level of IL-4, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17A and IFN-α were lower in the PCa group compared to those in control group. Following surgery, the concentration of IL-6 decreased; whereas, the concentrations of IL-4, TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-1β, IL-12p70, and IFN-α increased, demonstrating significant differences (p < 0.05). The differential upregulation of IL-6 or downregulation of IL-17A in peripheral blood exhibited diagnostic efficacy in PCa patients. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in IL-17A levels, accompanied by decreased of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-a, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-12P70 in patients with distant metastasis.

Conclusion: The peripheral blood cytokines are closely associated with the occurrence and development of prostate cancer, especially the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-17A may be useful as potential predictors of PCa diagnosis.