Tumor necrosis factor: An inflammatory microenvironment marker in primary breast cancer patients

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<strong>Aim: </strong>The present study was planned to analyze plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in invasive ductal primary breast cancer (BC) patients in a South Indian population. TNF alpha (TNF α) and TNF beta (TNF β) are produced during inflammation as proinflammatory cytokine markers. The plasma levels of TNF α and TNF β (lymphotoxin α) were correlated with clinicopathological features of BC. <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>Blood samples were collected from patients before treatment. We analyzed plasma levels of TNF α, and TNF β in 70 female BC cases and 35 age-matched healthy controls using Millipore magnetic bead kits. <strong>Results: </strong>Plasma TNF α levels in BC cases were significantly elevated (median 10.1 pg/ml) when compared to the control groups. Plasma values of TNF α and TNF β both were significantly elevated in BC patients with hormone receptor negative cases. Plasma TNF α level was elevated in lymph node metastasis and triple negative BC. Plasma values of TNF α inversely correlated with estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor positivity. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>The plasma levels of TNF α were more significantly overexpressed than TNF β in BC patients. Further, the patients with aggressive cancer had higher levels of inflammation markers. The present study shows that TNF levels were elevated in hormone receptor negative and triple-negative cases.<p> </p>