Interleukin-6 as a Predictive Marker for Lymph Node and Distant Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Jianjun Xiao, Muyou Tian, Guoyu Chen, Huifen Li Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan City People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Huifen Li, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan City People’s Hospital, No. 2 Sunwen East Road, Zhongshan, Guangdong,...
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Dove Medical Press
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/interleukin-6-as-a-predictive-marker-for-lymph-node-and-distant-metast-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CMAR |
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| author | Xiao J Tian M Chen G Li H |
| author_facet | Xiao J Tian M Chen G Li H |
| author_sort | Xiao J |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Jianjun Xiao, Muyou Tian, Guoyu Chen, Huifen Li Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan City People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Huifen Li, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan City People’s Hospital, No. 2 Sunwen East Road, Zhongshan, Guangdong, 528404, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13450956484, Fax +86 760-88823566, Email LHF20250110@outlook.comBackground: Metastasis is the leading cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC). While interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key inflammatory cytokine, is implicated in tumor metastasis, its specific association with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and distant metastasis (DM) in CRC remains unclear.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data and serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokines (including IL-6) in 427 CRC patients, stratified by metastatic status. Statistical analyses assessed the predictive value of IL-6 for metastasis.Results: Elevated serum IL-6 levels were significantly associated with both LNM and DM (P< 0.05). IL-6 positively correlated with CEA levels (Spearman correlation). Although IL-6 alone showed modest predictive power for LNM (AUC=0.555), it outperformed CEA (AUC=0.525). Combining IL-6 and CEA improved diagnostic accuracy for LNM (AUC=0.583). Notably, IL-6 demonstrated greater sensitivity than CEA in predicting DM (77.30% vs 67.40% at optimal cutoff).Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that IL-6 holds significant predictive value for metastasis in CRC, particularly excelling in the prediction of LNM. The detection of IL-6 offers a valuable complementary approach to the existing clinical prediction paradigm for CRC metastasis risk.Keywords: IL-6, colorectal cancer, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24ad7aca85a5498e952e2f8c0fb3e2d9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1179-1322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Management and Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-24ad7aca85a5498e952e2f8c0fb3e2d92025-08-20T02:54:19ZengDove Medical PressCancer Management and Research1179-13222025-08-01Volume 17Issue 115251535105378Interleukin-6 as a Predictive Marker for Lymph Node and Distant Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort StudyXiao JTian MChen G0Li H1oncologyDepartment of Medical OncologyJianjun Xiao, Muyou Tian, Guoyu Chen, Huifen Li Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan City People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Huifen Li, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan City People’s Hospital, No. 2 Sunwen East Road, Zhongshan, Guangdong, 528404, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13450956484, Fax +86 760-88823566, Email LHF20250110@outlook.comBackground: Metastasis is the leading cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC). While interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key inflammatory cytokine, is implicated in tumor metastasis, its specific association with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and distant metastasis (DM) in CRC remains unclear.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data and serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokines (including IL-6) in 427 CRC patients, stratified by metastatic status. Statistical analyses assessed the predictive value of IL-6 for metastasis.Results: Elevated serum IL-6 levels were significantly associated with both LNM and DM (P< 0.05). IL-6 positively correlated with CEA levels (Spearman correlation). Although IL-6 alone showed modest predictive power for LNM (AUC=0.555), it outperformed CEA (AUC=0.525). Combining IL-6 and CEA improved diagnostic accuracy for LNM (AUC=0.583). Notably, IL-6 demonstrated greater sensitivity than CEA in predicting DM (77.30% vs 67.40% at optimal cutoff).Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that IL-6 holds significant predictive value for metastasis in CRC, particularly excelling in the prediction of LNM. The detection of IL-6 offers a valuable complementary approach to the existing clinical prediction paradigm for CRC metastasis risk.Keywords: IL-6, colorectal cancer, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasishttps://www.dovepress.com/interleukin-6-as-a-predictive-marker-for-lymph-node-and-distant-metast-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CMARIL-6colorectal cancerlymph node metastasisdistant metastasis |
| spellingShingle | Xiao J Tian M Chen G Li H Interleukin-6 as a Predictive Marker for Lymph Node and Distant Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study Cancer Management and Research IL-6 colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis distant metastasis |
| title | Interleukin-6 as a Predictive Marker for Lymph Node and Distant Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study |
| title_full | Interleukin-6 as a Predictive Marker for Lymph Node and Distant Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study |
| title_fullStr | Interleukin-6 as a Predictive Marker for Lymph Node and Distant Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interleukin-6 as a Predictive Marker for Lymph Node and Distant Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study |
| title_short | Interleukin-6 as a Predictive Marker for Lymph Node and Distant Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study |
| title_sort | interleukin 6 as a predictive marker for lymph node and distant metastasis in colorectal cancer a retrospective cohort study |
| topic | IL-6 colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis distant metastasis |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/interleukin-6-as-a-predictive-marker-for-lymph-node-and-distant-metast-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CMAR |
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