Background and Objective: Head and neck cancers are among the most common forms of cancer in the world and account for 2.4% of all cancer-related mortality. Since early detection of cancer is a key factor in improving prognosis and increasing patient survival, and given the diversity of results regarding the role of interleukins in the pathogenesis of lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma, this study was conducted to compare serum levels of interleukin-28 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and lichen planus versus healthy people.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over 5 years on 50 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral lichen planus (OLP) who referred to Khalili Hospital, Mother and Child Hospital, and the School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences compared to 30 controls. 5 mL of blood was collected from the patients and controls in test tubes containing EDTA anticoagulant and was centrifuged. The collected sera were stored in sterile micro-tubes at -20ºC. Then, the concentration of IL-28 in serum was compared between the patients and the control group using the ELISA method.
Findings: 50 patients with oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma with a mean age of 51.20±10.65 years participated in this study, including 19 men (38%) and 31 women (62%). The control group consisted of 12 men (40%) and 18 women (60%) with a mean age of 49.93±14.95 years. The mean age of male patients was 45.11±11.29 years and the mean age of female patients was 54.94±8.41 years (p=0.003). The mean serum level of IL-28 in the OLP group was 66.43±30.94 pg/ml, in the OSCC group 121.3±18.67 pg/ml, and in the control group 86.19±23.53 pg/ml (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the concentration of IL-28 in patients with oral lichen planus was significantly lower compared to controls, while in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, it was higher than controls. Since the level of IL-28 is associated with OLP and OSCC, it can therefore be used as a biological marker for the diagnosis of this type of malignancy.