ABSTRACT
Bladder cancer is a major health problem in Egypt as it represents the most common malignancy. The increasing morbidity and mortality rates of bladder cancer have forced the scientists to zearch for new unfailing diagnostic and therapeutic methods that will improve treatment effects. Insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1] and Interleukin-8 [IL-8] have been implicated in the development of various human cancers. To evaluate the potential usefulness of serum IGF-1 and IL-8 in Egyptian bladder cancer patients. serum levels of IL-8 and IGF-I were determined in 51 bladder cancer patients and 45 controls using a chemiluminescence enzyme immunometric assay. Serum IL-8 was significantly higher in cancer patients than in controls [p<0.0001]. It was significantly higher in patients with invasive cancer than those with superficial cancer [p<0.01]. In addition, IL-8 showed a significant elevation in relation to schistosomal infection [p=0.02] however, it did not differ in relation to either pathological type of tumor or its grade [p>0.05]. Receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve indicated that IL-8 cutoff value of 28 pg/mi yielded the best sensitivity [76.5%] and specificity [84.4%] for differentiating patients with bladder cancer from control subjects. Serum IGF-1 levels showed no significant difference between bladder cancer patients and controls [p>0.05]. There was no relationship between IGF-1 levels and clinicopathological parameters. In Egyptian patients with bladder cancer, serum IL-8 was significantly elevated and its level was related to tumor invasion and associated schistosomal infection. Moreover, serum IGF-1 level did not help as a serum tumor marker in these patients