Serum Interleukins IL-6, IL-7, and IL-10 as Immune Biomarkers Correlating with Tumor Grade and Histological Type in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Breast cancer, which can appear with a range of tissue types and disease stages, is still the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. Interleukins (ILs) are essential for regulating immune system function and affecting the growth and development of malignancies. This study evaluated serum levels of IL-6, IL-7, and IL-10 in 120 treatment-naïve breast cancer patients compared to 25 healthy controls using ELISA. Patients exhibited significantly elevated cytokine levels (p < 0.0001), with highest IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations observed in metastatic cases. ANOVA analysis revealed strong associations between cytokine levels and tumor grade (R² = 0.75–0.80; p < 0.0001). IL-10 showed a positive correlation with tumor aggressiveness, whereas IL-7 displayed a more complex pattern, elevated particularly in grade III tumors. Correlations among these cytokines were weak and non-significant, indicating independent regulation. We conclude that, While IL-10 positively correlated with tumor grade, indicating a role in tumor progression, IL-6 exhibited the highest rise and was strongly associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis. Aggressive (grade III) tumors had greater amounts of IL-7, which showed a complex pattern.