Elevated Serum IL-8 Is Associated with the Presence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Independently Predicts Survival

Tumor immune responses have prognostic importance to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum cytokines may differentiate HCC patients from cirrhotic patients or have prognostic significance. Serum IL-8 was elevated in 90 HCC patients compared to 180 cirrhotic controls, whereas IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, IL-21, and VEGF were similar. IL-8 predicted HCC presence with an area under the receiver-operator curve (ROC) of 0.68. HCC patients with highest IL-8 had worse survival. Multivariate analysis showed that high IL-8 (HR 2.15; 95% CI: 1.21-3.74) and stage (HR 1.92; 95% CI: 1.22-3.97) independently predicted mortality; while viral etiology was protective (HR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.41-0.98). Therefore, HCC IL-8 mediated events may be worthy of future investigation.