부산대학교 도서관

OBJECTIVE Breast cancer is a metastatic disease that frequently (in approximately 70% of cases) affects the skeletal system. The aim of the present study was to compare serum IL-18 levels in breast cancer patients with and without bone metastases with healthy controls. METHODS Included were a total of 154 female breast cancer patients with bone metastases (n=53; Group 2) and without bone metastases (n=51; Group 1), as well as 50 healthy control subjects (Group 3). Serum IL-18 levels were compared among the groups. RESULTS Mean serum IL-18 levels were significantly different between Groups 1 and 3 (p<0.001), Groups 2 and 3 (p<0.001), and Groups 2 and 1 (p=0.020). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis performed between Groups 1 and 2, sensitivity of serum IL-18 levels in patients with bone metastases was nearly 26 percent. CONCLUSION Lower rates of IL-18 sensitivity were detected in breast cancer patients with bone metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]