Interleukin-37 Serum Levels in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common cancer of the maxillofacial area, known for its high mortality and morbidity rates. Increasing evidence highlights the critical role of chronic inflammation in human malignancies by modulating inflammatory cells and cytokine synthesis. IL-37 is recognized as a cytokine that may play a dual role in cancer. Purpose: This study sought to investigate IL-37 serum concentrations in individuals with oral SCC, specifically SCC of the tongue. Materials and Method: This case-control study investigated IL-37 serum levels and their association with the patients' clinicopathological characteristics in 65 cases of oral SCC compared to 65 healthy controls using the ELISA technique. The study further assessed the diagnostic significance of IL-37 serum concentrations using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The results indicated that IL-37 serum concentrations were markedly higher in patients than in the control group, although no association with the patients' clinicopathological characteristics was found. The best cut-off point for the serum IL-37 level was 61.95 pg/ml, with a sensitivity of 92.30% and specificity of 87.70%. The ROC curve area was 0.90. Conclusion: The significant increase of serum IL-37 levels in oral SCC patients underscores its involvement in the disease's pathology and suggests its potential use in early detection and screening. Future studies should aim to elucidate the interplay of this cytokine with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and explore its possible diagnostic and therapeutic applications in cancer.

Keywords: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Interleukin 37 Protein, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

PMID: 42688805

DOI: 10.30476/dentjods.2025.105421.2595