Open Access

Association between the expression levels of IL‑6 and IL‑6R in the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and postoperative recurrence

  • Authors:
    • Mao Zhang
    • Shun Zhang
    • Zhenjie Yang
    • Jie Hu
    • Weiyu Hu
    • Peng Sun
    • Liqun Wu
    • Bing Han
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 9, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9557
  • Pages: 7158-7165
  • Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex system, involving mutual promotion and inhibition between cells and molecules. It results in alterations to inflammatory‑associated factors, including a decrease in interleukin (IL)‑2 and an increase in tumor necrosis factor, together with a characteristic elevation of IL‑6. Following the synthesis and release of IL‑6, HCC is stimulated through IL‑6 binding to the IL‑6 receptor (IL‑6R). In the present study, immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate the expression levels of IL‑6 and IL‑6R in 92 patients with HCC, and the association between IL‑6/IL‑6R expression levels and tumor recurrence was examined. Notably increased expression levels of IL‑6 and IL‑6R were observed in the HCC microenvironment, and recurrence occurred earlier in patients with high IL‑6/IL‑6R expression levels compared with those with low expression levels (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in overall survival between patients in the two groups (P>0.05). Platelet levels <100x109/l, tumor‑node‑metastasis stage IIIa and high expression levels of IL‑6/IL‑6R were independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence (P<0.05). The present study proposed that high IL‑6 and IL‑6R expression in the HCC microenvironment promotes postoperative tumor recurrence, suggesting that these may be potential predictors of recurrence, and may be used as possible therapeutic targets to enhance the long‑term survival of patients.
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December-2018
Volume 16 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhang M, Zhang S, Yang Z, Hu J, Hu W, Sun P, Wu L and Han B: Association between the expression levels of IL‑6 and IL‑6R in the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and postoperative recurrence. Oncol Lett 16: 7158-7165, 2018
APA
Zhang, M., Zhang, S., Yang, Z., Hu, J., Hu, W., Sun, P. ... Han, B. (2018). Association between the expression levels of IL‑6 and IL‑6R in the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and postoperative recurrence. Oncology Letters, 16, 7158-7165. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9557
MLA
Zhang, M., Zhang, S., Yang, Z., Hu, J., Hu, W., Sun, P., Wu, L., Han, B."Association between the expression levels of IL‑6 and IL‑6R in the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and postoperative recurrence". Oncology Letters 16.6 (2018): 7158-7165.
Chicago
Zhang, M., Zhang, S., Yang, Z., Hu, J., Hu, W., Sun, P., Wu, L., Han, B."Association between the expression levels of IL‑6 and IL‑6R in the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and postoperative recurrence". Oncology Letters 16, no. 6 (2018): 7158-7165. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9557