Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Early detection and prognosis prediction are critical to improve patient survival in pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to investigate whether interleukins could serve as indicators of prognosis in pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with pancreatic cancer were enrolled in the study during the period between 2012 and 2014. The serum levels of a broad spectrum of interleukins in these patients were determined, including IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-15, and IL-23. RESULTS: IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 showed significant positive correlations with each other. Moreover, high levels of serum IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were independently strongly associated with poor survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 could be useful markers for prediction of prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer.