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Brief Report
Serum Cytokines and Cancer in Involuntary Weight Loss
  1. Cristian Baicus, MD, PhD*†,
  2. Simona Caraiola, MD*†,
  3. Mihai Rimbas, MD*†,
  4. Ruxandra Patrascu, MD, PhD*,
  5. Anda Baicus, MD, PhD†‡
  1. From the *Departments of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Colentina University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania; †Clinical Research Unit, RECIF (Réseau d’ Epidémiologie Clinique International Francophone) Bucharest, Romania; and ‡“I. Cantacuzino” National Institute of Research and Development in Microbiology-Immunology, Bucharest, Romania.
  1. Received September 29, 2011, and in revised form February 2, 2012.
  2. Accepted for publication February 20, 2012.
  3. Reprints: Cristian Baicus, MD, PhD, Third Department of Internal Medicine, Colentina University Hospital, Soseaua Stefan cel Mare 19-21, sector 2, 020125 Bucharest, Romania. E-mail: cbaicus{at}clicknet.ro.
  4. Supported by the National Council of Scientific Research in Higher Education (CNCSIS–UEFISCSU), Romanian Ministry of Education and Research (grant number PNII – IDEI 10/2008).
  5. The authors have no conflict of interest.
  6. §The Group for the Study of Involuntary Weight Loss (Grupul de Studiu al Scaderii Ponderale Involuntare ): C Baicus, C Badea, E Balanescu, M Balea, S Caraiola, G Constantin, I Constantinescu, L Dimitriu, D Georgescu, O Ghizdavu, A Haidar, M Ghita, M Iacob, RA Ionescu, P Leru, A Marian, RB Mateescu, A Nanu, A Nicolau, I Nicolescu, D Nitescu, R Patrascu, V Pompilian, M Rimbas, S Tanaseanu, G Ticu, D Ursica, R Voiosu, Th Voiosu (Colentina Clinical Hospital), and A Baicus (“I Cantacuzino” Institute).

Abstract

Background Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 may be associated with involuntary weight loss in patients with and without cancer. However, results of previous studies have been conflicting. We evaluated patients who had involuntary weight loss to determine cytokine levels and the correlation of these cytokines with weight loss, the association with inflammation, and the potential for use in cancer diagnosis.

Materials and Methods In 290 consecutive patients with involuntary weight loss (74 patients [26%] with cancer and 216 patients [74%] without cancer), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum levels of C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were determined.

Results Higher ESR and levels of C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were associated with cancer. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 did not correlate with the amount of weight loss. In multivariable analysis, only ESR was associated with cancer.

Conclusions In patients with involuntary weight loss, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were associated with cancer but were not weight loss mediators.

Key Words
  • tumor necrosis factor
  • interleukin
  • cachexia

http://dx.doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31825148b1

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