Study of immunological indicators in peripheral blood for nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE: To find reliable diagnostic immunological indicators in peripheral blood for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and to evaluate the possibility of cancer screening and early diagnosis of the malignancies in the future. METHODS: Plasma samples were obtained from 83 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and from 105 patients with benign diseases. Nine cytokines were selected as the candidates for the indicators and their quantity in the plasma samples determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the result of which was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Interleukin (IL)-4 level was obviously increased, while IL-6, IL-12, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, interferon (IFN)-gamma levels significantly reduced (P<0.05) in the plasma from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: These cytokins may serve as the indicators in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.