Serum interleukin-17 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for non-small cell lung cancer

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the clinical role of serum interleukin (IL)-17 in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and method: Serum specimens from 128 patients with NSCLC and 60 healthy controls were collected. The concentrations of IL-17 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum IL-17 levels were higher in the NSCLC group in comparison with the control group (p<0.01). With a cut-off value of 16 pg/ml, IL-17 showed a good diagnostic performance for NSCLC. Multivariate survival analysis indicated that IL-17 was an independent prognostic factor in NSCLC. Conclusion: Measurement of IL-17 might be a useful diagnostic and prognostic value for patients with NSCLC.