Predictive and prognostic value of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in saliva for radiotherapy response in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

作者：Li Ling Tan, Wenjuan Liu, Qiaoling Sun, Yan Shi · 发表于：Discover Oncology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1007/s12672-025-02986-2 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions、Head and Neck Cancer Studies、Immune Response and Inflammation

OBJECTIVE: This investigation focused on analyzing saliva inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) to predict radiotherapy response and determine prognostic value in individuals with HPV-linked oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). METHODS: Sixty patients diagnosed with HPV-associated OPSCC and treated with 3D conformal intensity-modulated radiotherapy at our hospital from June 2016 to June 2020 were selected, as well as 60 healthy individuals who underwent outpatient physical exams as the control group. The relationship between saliva IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and clinicopathological features was analyzed. The relationship between HPV status and radiotherapy response in OPSCC patients was analyzed, and the predictive value of saliva inflammatory factors on radiotherapy response was analyzed by ROC curves, and the factors influencing the prognosis of OPSCC were analyzed by Cox regression. RESULTS: Saliva IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in OPSCC patients did not show any statistically significant differences when analyzed across different genders, ages, tumor sites, histological grades, tumor sizes, clinical stages, cervical lymph node metastasis, and HPV status. IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in OPSCC patients were higher than those in healthy individuals. Patients with HPV-positive OPSCC were more sensitive to radiotherapy compared to those with HPV-negative. Saliva TNF-α levels were elevated in the radiotherapy-sensitive OPSCC patients, with IL-6 and IL-8 levels being lower than thos...