Abstract
The aim of the analysis was for the first time to assess the expression of genes encoding IL-21 and IL-22 at the mRNA level in ovarian tumor specimens and the concentration of these parameters in serum and peritoneal fluid in patients with ovarian serous cancer. The levels of IL-21 and IL-22 transcripts were evaluated with the use of the real-time RT-qPCR. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the concentration of proteins. Quantitative analysis of IL-21 gene mRNA in the tumor tissue showed the highest activity in the G1 degree of histopathological differentiation and was higher in G1 compared to the control group. The concentration of IL-21 and IL-22 in the serum and in the peritoneal fluid of women with ovarian cancer varied depending on the degree of histopathological differentiation of the cancer and showed statistical variability compared to controls. The conducted studies have shown that the local and systemic changes in the immune system involving IL-21 and IL-22 indicate the participation of these parameters in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer, and modulation in the IL-21/IL-22 system may prove useful in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies used in patients, which require further research.
Highlights
Ovarian cancer is one of the gynecological cancers with the worst prognosis
Altered expression of cytokines and their receptors in cancer cells affects the interaction in the tumor microenvironment, which may induce an anti-cancer response, promote tumor growth, participate in invasion and metastasis, and in immunosuppression [5,6]
The study group included 26 women, aged 41 to 82 with the diagnosed ovarian cancer with the Cystadenocarcinoma papillare serosum IIIC (7 had G1, 5 had G2, and 14 had G3 staging) Staging employed the criteria recommended by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
Summary
Ovarian cancer is one of the gynecological cancers with the worst prognosis. Both the number of cases and the mortality caused by this disease in the world are constantly increasing [1,2]. The most important prognostic factor is the stage of clinical advancement, which determines the therapeutic strategy. This cancer is detected in stage III or IV in more than 70% of women. It is associated with an unfavorable prognosis and a low five-year survival rate. It is caused by asymptomatic tumor growth, lack of characteristic clinical symptoms in the initial stage of the disease and diagnostic tests helpful in early diagnosis [3,4]. Altered expression of cytokines and their receptors in cancer cells affects the interaction in the tumor microenvironment, which may induce an anti-cancer response, promote tumor growth, participate in invasion and metastasis, and in immunosuppression [5,6]
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