Serum chemokine profiling in spinal ependymoma: Correlation with tumor characteristics and prognostic implications

Abstract

Background: Spinal ependymomas are rare neoplasms that originate from the ependymal cells lining the central canal of the spinal cord. Since serum levels of cytokines and chemokines are imbalanced in tumorigenesis, this study investigated the serum levels of IL-8, CCL2, and CXCL12 chemokines in patients with spinal cord ependymoma and their correlation with multiple tumor parameters.

Methods: In the current investigation, blood samples were obtained from 50 patients with spinal ependymomas and 25 healthy individuals, who acted as controls, to assess the levels of specific chemokines. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-8, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) chemokines were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In contrast, their gene expression levels were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Then, the correlation of these factors with tumor size, grade, recurrence, and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score was investigated.

Results: The current study demonstrated that serum expression levels of IL-8, CCL2, and CXCL12 were significantly elevated in patients with spinal ependymoma compared to the control group. The cytokine IL-8 showed a significant relationship with tumor size, grade, and KPS score. CXCL12 and CCL2 also had a significant relationship with tumor size and grade.

Conclusion: Based on the current study, IL-8, CXCL12, and CCL2 are significantly elevated in spinal ependymoma patients and linked to tumor progression. These findings underscore the need for future studies to broaden the characterization of spinal ependymoma and develop blood-based markers for these tumors to guide clinical management.