P13 Exploring the diagnostic value of inflammatory markers in prostate cancer: A serum and tissue-based study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction & Objectives: Chronic inflammation has been increasingly recognized as a contributing factor in prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune mediators are known to influence tumor initiation, immune evasion, and disease progression. However, their specific diagnostic potential in distinguishing PCa from benign conditions remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between inflammatory markers in serum and prostate biopsy tissue with PCa presence. Specifically, we seek to (1) identify inflammatory cytokines that differ significantly between PCa patients and cancer-free controls, (2) assess their potential as diagnostic biomarkers, and (3) determine whether inverse associations between inflammatory markers in prostate tissue suggest a protective role in PCa development. Materials & Methods: This prospective study included 60 PCa patients and 22 cancer-free controls enrolled in Lithuania's PSA-based early detection program. Ethical approval was obtained from the Regional Bioethics Committee (Permission No. BE-2-10). To minimize confounding effects, patients with underlying inflammatory conditions were excluded. Serum and prostate biopsy samples were analyzed for IL-2, IL-4, IL10, IL-13, IL-33, Oncostatin M, TNF-alpha, PDGF-BB, and TREM-1 using Luminex technology. Statistical analyses included the MannWhitney U test, logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis to assess marker distribution and diagnostic performance. Results: PCa patients exhibited significantly higher serum levels of IL-2 (p = 0.001), IL-10 (p < 0.001), IL-33 (p < 0.001), Oncostatin M (p = 0.018), and TNF-alpha (p = 0.017) compared to controls. In contrast, biopsy tissue levels of IL-4 (p < 0.001), IL-10 (p < 0.001), IL-13 (p = 0.004), Oncostatin M (p = 0.012), PDGF-BB (p = 0.039), and TREM-1 (p = 0.013) were significantly lower in PCa patients, suggesting a potential protective role. Logistic regression revealed that higher IL-2 and IL-33 in serum increased PCa risk (OR = 3.38, p = 0.010; OR = 1.77, p = 0.021, respectively), while IL-4 and IL-13 in biopsy tissue were inversely associated with PCa (OR = 0.313, p < 0.001; OR = 0.159, p = 0.008, respectively). ROC analysis demonstrated that IL-10 in serum (AUC = 0.788, sensitivity = 69.2%, specificity = 81.0%) and IL-4 (inverted) in biopsy samples (AUC = 0.804, sensitivity = 72.7%, specificity = 81.7%) had the strongest discriminative ability for PCa detection. Conclusions: This study highlights IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 in biopsy tissue as potential protective biomarkers, whereas elevated IL-2 and IL-33 in serum are associated with increased PCa risk. The exclusion of patients with inflammatory conditions strengthens the validity of these findings. These results support the potential role of inflammatory markers in PCa diagnosis and risk stratification, warranting further validation in larger cohorts.
Source: European Urology Open Science
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,800
OpenAlex ID: W4411327077