Interleukin-10 levels in Epstein-Barr virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Dyah R Budiani, Salomo Hutahaean, Sofia M Haryana, Marsetyawan HNE Soesatyo, Wihaskoro Sosroseno
Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Sumatera Utara University, Medan, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of interleukin-10 in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Both biopsies and sera were obtained from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma as well as Epstein-Barr virus-seronegative patients as a control. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were classified using the World Health Organization pathological assessment and clinical staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The numbers of interleukin-10 positive cells and the levels of serum interleukin-10 were assessed by immunohistochemical methods and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of serum interleukin-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that the number of interleukin-10 positive cells and serum interleukin-10 levels were significantly increased in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma-World Health Organization type III and with clinical late stage (p<0.05), suggesting that interleukin-10 may have a crucial role in the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2002;35:265-268.