Abstract. The present study aimed to examine the predictability
of pre-treatment serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and
tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α for determining the outcome
of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) assigned
for chemoradiotherapy. A total of 35 patients with NPC were
subjected to clinical examination and evaluation of performance
status
using
Karnofsky
scoring.
Nasopharyngoscopy
was
performed
for
evaluation
and
to
obtain
a biopsy.
Blood
samples
were
obtained
pre-
and
post-treatment
for
polymerase
chain
reaction
quantitative
estimation
of
Epstein-Barr
virus
(EBV)
DNA
plasma
load
and
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent
assay
for
estimation
of
serum
cytokines.
All
patients
received
chemoradiotherapy
and
were
followed-up
for
2
years.
Cervical
lymphadenopathy
and
recurrent
attacks
of
epistaxis
are
the
most
common presenting symptoms. Treatment significantly
decreased pre-treatment plasma EBV DNA load and serum
levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and increased serum IL-1β levels.
Clinical staging and EBV DNA plasma load revealed positively
significant correlation with pre‑treatment serum levels of both
IL-6 and TNF-α, while revealed negative significant correlation
with
serum
IL-1β
levels.
The
2-year
survival
rate
was
negatively
significantly correlated with pre‑treatment levels of
IL-6 and TNF-α, and EBV DNA viral load, while it was positively
significantly correlated with pre‑treatment performance |
