Plasma levels of interleukin-33 and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma undergoing systemic chemotherapy

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) and its “decoy” receptor soluble ST2 (sST2) are involved in the development of chronic inflammation and cancer. We explored IL-33 and sST2 as a potential prognostic marker in patients with metastatic and locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). IL-33 and sST2 plasma levels were assessed in 20 patients with advanced PDAC before start of systemic chemotherapy and were analyzed in relation to clinical outcome. Kaplan Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model analysis revealed a significant association between sST2 plasma levels and survival (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.33–3.41, p = 0.002) and link high sST2 plasma levels to inferior survival in patients with advanced PDAC undergoing chemotherapy.