In vitro cytokine release profile: Predictive value for metastatic potential in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) have devastating morbidity rates with mortality mainly because of metastasis. Methods Multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assay a variety of cytokine levels secreted by a panel of stage-specific and anatomic site-specific primary, and recurrent and metastatic University of Michigan-HNSCC cell lines over a 72-hour time course. Results Conditioned medium from metastatic or recurrent HNSCC showed significantly higher amounts of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-6 receptor, tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) than nonmetastatic cells or normal oral keratinocytes. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was only secreted by stage IV, metastatic, or recurrence-derived cell lines. Conclusion The cytokine profile of cultured HNSCC cells suggests that high levels of IL-6 and IL-6R, TGF-β, and VEGF are significantly related with their metastatogenic potential and provide rationale for determining if serum testing for a combination of these 4 soluble factors could be of predictive value for the HNSCC tumor progression and clinical outcome.