Plasma Cytokine Levels and Cytokine Genetic Polymorphisms in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving High-Dose Chemotherapy

Differences in the baseline levels of serum cytokines or single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) cytokine genes may be useful to predict outcomes for patients being treated metastatic breast cancer. We have measured plasma and characterized individual SNPs IL-1RA, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 TNFα 130 with cancer high-dose chemotherapy. Patients were cyclophosphamide (Group 1, 74 patients) paclitaxel-containing regimens 2, 56 patients). A high level IL-1RA a SNP gene indicated better prognosis Group 1 (but not 2). However, did correlate genotype. poorer outcome although genotypes associated differences outcome. The IL-1β IL-2 genotype indicate Although, individually, “risk” outcome, combination there was an increased trend but paclitaxel. These results suggest that immune as prognostic biomarkers treatment different types