Cytokines in saliva increase in head and neck cancer patients after treatment.

ABSTRACT: Approximately one-third of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) recur within 2 years of treatment. Due to ease of collection, saliva is of interest to monitor changes that correlate with treatment. Previously this was a challenge due to xerostomia after conventional radiation. The emergence of gland-sparing radiation has made it possible to collect saliva post-treatment. This study investigated changes in cytokines in saliva pre- and post-treatment to provide foundational knowledge for future studies exploring the use of saliva to monitor treatment response.Pre- and post-treatment saliva was evaluated for 8 cytokines by multiplex assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.In oropharyngeal HNSCC, secretion of epidermal growth factor (EGF), GRO? (Growth-regulated protein alpha), interleukin (IL)-1?, IL-?, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-?, and vascular endothelial growth factor increased significantly post-treatment. In additional patients, significant increases of GR-? and IL-6 were validated, but EGF showed no change.The uniqueness of this study is its comparison of salivary cytokines from HNSCC patients pre- and post-treatment.

SUBMITTER: Russo N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5031552 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature