Serum cytokine levels and the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer patients

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between serum concentrations of cytokines and soluble cytokine receptors in breast cancer patients and the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in tumor cells. Methods: The study comprised 158 female breast cancer patients before treatment and 50 healthy individuals as a reference group. Results: The study revealed significantly higher concentrations of most cytokines in breast cancer patients compared to the reference group. Assessment of the correlation between cytokine concentrations in serum and the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in tumor cells showed significantly higher interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentrations in patients lacking progesterone receptors in comparison to patients with these receptors. The concentrations of cytokines and their soluble receptors as a function of the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors were also analyzed in two age groups. In younger patients, aged 50 years and below, no significant differences were found between serum cytokine concentrations and the expression of both estrogen and progesterone receptors. In patients older than 50 years, significantly higher IL-8 concentrations were observed in individuals lacking progesterone receptors, whereas IL-1ra was significantly higher in those lacking estrogen receptors. Conclusions: IL-1ra and IL-8 concentrations in serum, together with a lack of estrogen and progesterone receptors in tumor cells, in breast cancer patients older than 50 years could represent additional predictive factors for this disease.