Association between cytokines and progression-free survival in ovarian cancer following CRS/HIPEC treatment.

Background: The benefit of cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains uncertain. This study investigated the relationship between serum cytokines, particularly monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a key inflammatory mediator, and recurrence risk in EOC patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC.

Methods: From January 2018 to January 2023, serum cytokine levels were analyzed in 34 EOC patients (17 primary, 17 recurrent) before and after CRS/HIPEC using MILLIPLEX Magnetic Bead Panels. Cox proportional hazards regression calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) after controlling for clinical variables. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed on tissue microarrays from 19 patients.

Results: Higher 1-unit increment of MCP-1_Baseline were associated with increased recurrence risk within the first year post-CRS/HIPEC (HR: 1.010, 95% CI: 1.000-1.021). After one year, higher 1-unit increments of MCP-1_Post and MCP-1_Change were associated with increased recurrence risk. Lower IL-13 change and higher GROα change were associated with better progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.002 and p = 0.025, respectively). IHC analysis showed a trend towards worse PFS within the first year for patients with MCP-1 expression in tumor tissue (HR: 3.252, p = 0.264).

Conclusion: Cytokines, particularly MCP-1, may help predict PFS following CRS/HIPEC in EOC patients and could inform postoperative treatment decisions. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore clinical applications.