Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Objective This investigation focused on analyzing saliva inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) to predict radiotherapy response and determine prognostic value in individuals with HPV-linked oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods Sixty patients diagnosed with HPV-assoc...

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Main Authors: Li Tan, WenJuan Liu, QiChen Sun, Yan Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Discover Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02986-2
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author Li Tan
WenJuan Liu
QiChen Sun
Yan Shi
author_facet Li Tan
WenJuan Liu
QiChen Sun
Yan Shi
author_sort Li Tan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective This investigation focused on analyzing saliva inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) to predict radiotherapy response and determine prognostic value in individuals with HPV-linked oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods Sixty patients diagnosed with HPV-associated OPSCC and treated with 3D conformal intensity-modulated radiotherapy at our hospital from June 2016 to June 2020 were selected, as well as 60 healthy individuals who underwent outpatient physical exams as the control group. The relationship between saliva IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and clinicopathological features was analyzed. The relationship between HPV status and radiotherapy response in OPSCC patients was analyzed, and the predictive value of saliva inflammatory factors on radiotherapy response was analyzed by ROC curves, and the factors influencing the prognosis of OPSCC were analyzed by Cox regression. Results Saliva IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in OPSCC patients did not show any statistically significant differences when analyzed across different genders, ages, tumor sites, histological grades, tumor sizes, clinical stages, cervical lymph node metastasis, and HPV status. IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in OPSCC patients were higher than those in healthy individuals. Patients with HPV-positive OPSCC were more sensitive to radiotherapy compared to those with HPV-negative. Saliva TNF-α levels were elevated in the radiotherapy-sensitive OPSCC patients, with IL-6 and IL-8 levels being lower than those in radiotherapy-insensitive patients. For predicting radiotherapy response, the AUC for IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α was 0.744, 0.750, and 0.742, respectively, with the combination yielding an AUC of 0.821. Among OPSCC patients, those who survived showed higher TNF-α levels in saliva and lower IL-6 and IL-8 levels compared with those died. Elevated TNF-α level in saliva and sensitivity to radiotherapy were protective factors affecting prognosis, and elevated IL-6 and IL-8 were risk factors. Conclusion Saliva IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α are related to radiotherapy sensitivity and prognosis in patients with HPV-associated OPSCC, which can guide the selection of clinical treatment programs.
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spelling doaj-art-0b8db1306ab34f2bae4bf3ed1c4ae1712025-08-20T03:42:55ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-07-0116111210.1007/s12672-025-02986-2Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaLi Tan0WenJuan Liu1QiChen Sun2Yan Shi3Qilu Medical UniversityQilu Medical UniversityQilu Medical UniversityQilu Medical UniversityAbstract Objective This investigation focused on analyzing saliva inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) to predict radiotherapy response and determine prognostic value in individuals with HPV-linked oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods Sixty patients diagnosed with HPV-associated OPSCC and treated with 3D conformal intensity-modulated radiotherapy at our hospital from June 2016 to June 2020 were selected, as well as 60 healthy individuals who underwent outpatient physical exams as the control group. The relationship between saliva IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and clinicopathological features was analyzed. The relationship between HPV status and radiotherapy response in OPSCC patients was analyzed, and the predictive value of saliva inflammatory factors on radiotherapy response was analyzed by ROC curves, and the factors influencing the prognosis of OPSCC were analyzed by Cox regression. Results Saliva IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in OPSCC patients did not show any statistically significant differences when analyzed across different genders, ages, tumor sites, histological grades, tumor sizes, clinical stages, cervical lymph node metastasis, and HPV status. IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in OPSCC patients were higher than those in healthy individuals. Patients with HPV-positive OPSCC were more sensitive to radiotherapy compared to those with HPV-negative. Saliva TNF-α levels were elevated in the radiotherapy-sensitive OPSCC patients, with IL-6 and IL-8 levels being lower than those in radiotherapy-insensitive patients. For predicting radiotherapy response, the AUC for IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α was 0.744, 0.750, and 0.742, respectively, with the combination yielding an AUC of 0.821. Among OPSCC patients, those who survived showed higher TNF-α levels in saliva and lower IL-6 and IL-8 levels compared with those died. Elevated TNF-α level in saliva and sensitivity to radiotherapy were protective factors affecting prognosis, and elevated IL-6 and IL-8 were risk factors. Conclusion Saliva IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α are related to radiotherapy sensitivity and prognosis in patients with HPV-associated OPSCC, which can guide the selection of clinical treatment programs.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02986-2SalivaInflammatory factorsHPV-associated OPSCCRadiotherapy sensitivityPredictive value
spellingShingle Li Tan
WenJuan Liu
QiChen Sun
Yan Shi
Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Discover Oncology
Saliva
Inflammatory factors
HPV-associated OPSCC
Radiotherapy sensitivity
Predictive value
title Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
title_full Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
title_fullStr Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
title_short Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
title_sort predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors il 6 il 8 and tnf α in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with hpv associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
topic Saliva
Inflammatory factors
HPV-associated OPSCC
Radiotherapy sensitivity
Predictive value
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02986-2
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