Evaluating Interleukin-16 Expression in Patients with Grade-3 and Grade-4 Glial Cell Tumors and Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the change in IL-16 levels in patients with highgrade glial tumors undergoing radiotherapy (RT) and healthy individuals (control group).

Materials and Methods: Serum IL-16 levels of 35 high-grade glioma patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) and 30 healthy individuals were compared. We compared the IL-16 levels before (RT0) and after the (RT1) and IL-16 levels were measured and the relationship of this  change with other characteristics such as age, gender, weight, height, and blood test results. 

Results: The RT0-IL-16 level was approximately 15 pg/ml higher than the RT1 measurement in the patient group. The mean RT0-IL-16 levels in the patient group were  approximately 10 pg/ml higher than the mean IL-16 levels in the control group. Likewise, at the RT1 timepoint, the mean IL-16 levels for  the patient group were approximately 5 pg/ml lower than the mean IL-16 for the control group. The mean RT0-RT1-IL-16 value tended to  be higher in female patients than in male patients. 

Conclusion: The application of RT reduces the overall IL-16 levels, suggesting the  efficacy of RT, as well as the role of IL-16 in tumorigenesis.