Interleukin-6 as a Prognostic Marker for Breast Cancer: A Meta-analysis. Issue 5 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, ShuChen; Gan, ZhiHua; Han, Kun; Yao, Yang; Min, DaLiu
• Is Part Of: Tumori. Volume 101:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 535
• Page End: 541
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Breast cancer -- Interleukin-6 -- Meta-analysis -- Prognosis; Cancer -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.5301/tj.5000357
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-8916

Abstract

Aims and background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to promote tumor survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis, in addition to possessing antitumor activities. In light of the conflicting data, we sought to determine whether IL-6 could be used as a prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer. Methods: Eligible studies describing the use of IL-6 as a prognostic factor for breast cancer were identified. Data describing overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and clinicopathologic features were collected and analyzed. Results: Thirteen articles containing 3, 224 breast cancer patients were identified. The results showed that IL-6 expression was not associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor size, or histologic grade. Moreover, there was no correlation between IL-6 expression and DFS. However, the combined hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for OS was 2.15 (1.46, 3.17). Sensitivity analysis further demonstrated that, for OS, the results of this meta-analysis were stable. A subgroup analysis showed that the source used to detect IL-6 levels may have altered the pooled results for OS. Conclusions: Taken together, these results indicate that IL-6 expression is associated with poor prognosis for breast cancer and the prognostic role is affected by the source used to detect IL-6 levels.