Affiliations: [a] Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany | [b] pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and devastating tumor
conditions. Its development is closely linked to an infection with
Helicobacter pylori and chronic, cytokine-driven inflammation. The
proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin-33 (IL-33), its membrane bound cellular
receptor ST2L and its soluble receptor sST2 have recently been identified as
important factors in various tumor conditions, but their role in GC remains
ill-defined. METHODS: Thirty patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or the esophagogastric
junction were prospectively enrolled in the current study. 51 patients with
Helicobacter pylori positive or negative gastritis and 40 healthy volunteers
served as control group. Levels of IL-33 and sST2 were determined by ELISA
and their relation to HP-status, tumor stage and survival was assessed. RESULTS: Soluble ST2 levels in GC were significantly higher than in gastritis or
healthy controls (p< 0.0001). Furthermore, higher levels of sST2 were seen in
patients with lower degree of tumor differentiation. Soluble ST2 was
significantly associated with a more advanced tumor stage (p= 0.018),
metastatic disease (p= 0.014) and significantly correlated with the duration
of the disease (p= 0.0017). Calculating the ratio of IL-33/sST2 allowed the
discrimination of tumor and non-tumor patients. CONCLUSION: Soluble ST2 is associated with advanced and metastatic disease in GC
patients and significantly correlates with the duration of the disease. The
IL-33/sST2 ratio may offer a new, interesting approach in identifying GC
patients.
