Decreased Serum Level of Interleukin-۱۹ in Iranian Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: Interleukin-۱۹, a member of the interleukin-۱۰ family of cytokines,contributes to breast cancer pathogenesis. High interleukin-۱۹ expression in breasttumor tissues is associated with poor clinical outcome. This study aimed to assessthe changes in serum level of interleukin-۱۹ in breast cancer patients in comparisonwith normal women and its association with the clinicopathological parameters ofthis disease.Methods: Enzyme-linked  immunosorbent  assay was used  to  analyze  serumlevels of interleukin-۱۹ in ۱۱۶ women with breast cancer before chemotherapy orradiotherapy, and in ۶۰ healthy age-matched women without any acute or chronicdiseases or family history of cancer.Results: There were significantly lower serum interleukin-۱۹ levels in breast cancerpatients  (median:  ۲۷.۳  pg/ml;  range:  ۱۰.۵-۲۴۴۳.۶ pg/ml)  compared  to healthycontrols (median: ۳۵.۱ pg/ml; range: ۱۰.۹-۱۳۶۷۶.۶ pg/ml; P<۰.۰۱). Compared to the healthy control group, the decrease in serum interleukin-۱۹ concentration was seen in all breast cancer stages. However the decrease was only significant for stage III (P=۰.۰۲). We found no significant association between serum interleukin-۱۹ levels and stage, grade, lymph node involvement or other clinicopathological variables of the  disease. However, when  compared  to  the  healthy  control  group, we  found significantly decreased serum interleukin-۱۹ levels in patients with involved lymph nodes (P<۰.۰۱) or tumor size greater than ۲ cm (P=۰.۰۱).Conclusion: There were significantly decreased interleukin-۱۹ levels in breastcancer patients compared to the healthy control group. We observed no associationbetween serum interleukin-۱۹ levels and clinicopathological parameters in breastcancer patients.