Advancing early detection of gastric cancer through serum cytokine profiling

Core Tip

Core Tip: Ren et al’s study produced some main findings that suggest serum pro-inflammatory cytokines may serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma (GC). This study reveals that patients with GC have significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and interferon-γ compared to healthy individuals. Notably, the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrates that IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 show exceptional potential in distinguishing GC patients, with area under the curve values exceeding 0.7. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 and both the T stage and N stage of the disease. These insights encourage further exploration and offer hope for advancements in gastric cancer diagnostics. In addition to this, there are several limitations to consider. One major limitation is the relatively small sample size, as well as the potential bias introduced by collecting data from a single center. Furthermore, the study did not evaluate the dynamic changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines at various stages of GC. Lastly, it is worth noting that the samples were collected over an extended period, nearly one year.