Prognostic value of circulating cytokines in colon cancer recurrence

Abstract

DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.0 * Corresponding author. Department of Surg 6609 E-mail address: harish.lavu@jefferson.ed 0022-4804/$ e see front matter a 2014 Elsev http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.02.004 Dr Lee and his colleagues at GachonUniversity have published an interesting study on the correlation between colon cancer outcomes and preoperative serum epidermal growth factor (EGF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in a stage III subpopulation [1]. The incidence of colon cancer has increased steadily in recent years and colon cancer now accounts for 15% of all cancer deaths worldwide [1,2]. Furthermore, although AJCC TNM stage classification has proven useful, it still has its limitations, due in part to the variance of patient outcomes within a given stage [2]. There is a necessity to develop accurate molecular markers to aid in predicting the risk of cancer recurrence in surgically treated patients, to more accurately identify those who will benefit from adjuvant treatment [1,2]. In this study, the authors analyzed the efficacy and use of EGF/EGF receptor, CRP, and IL-6 as markers for stage III colon cancer recurrence. In this prospective work, which took place between April 2008 and August 2009, the authors studied 77 patients with curatively resected stage III colon cancer at the Gil Cancer Center, Gil Hospital, Gachon University, Korea. Each case had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of colon adenocarcinoma, and serum samples of IL-6, CRP, and EGF were taken from the