Evaluation of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) Levels before and after Radiotherapy in Thyroid Carcinoma Patients

• Zahraa A.G. Al Ghuraibawi

  Iraqi National Cancer Research Center/ University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

  https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5859-3651

Background: Thyroid cancer is a health concern and the most common endocrine tumor in adults with a significant increase in incidence in recent years.

Objective: This study investigates the role of interleukin-8 in thyroid cancer patients before and after treatment with radiotherapy and study association of it with tumor progression and inflammatory response as part of the tumor microenvironment.

Subjects and Methods: A total of 45 thyroid cancer patients (21 male and 24 female) in the educational laboratories/Medical City Hospital/Baghdad from February to April 2025. participated based on the recommendations of the specialist physician after the results of clinical examination, X-ray imaging, and laboratory tests, and 18 healthy controls participated in the study. IL-8 levels were measured before and after treatment with radiotherapy using an ELISA kit, and statistical analyses were performed to assess differences between groups while taking into account demographic characteristics

Result: Thyroid cancer patients showed significantly elevated levels of interleukin-8 compared to controls; IL-8 levels increased significantly after radiotherapy, indicating an enhanced inflammatory response.

Conclusion: The results emphasize the potential role of interleukin-8 as a biomarker for assessing thyroid cancer progression and response to radiotherapy, highlighting its role in the tumor microenvironment and its implications for patient management.

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