Evaluation of some oncomarkers and cytokines in vinyl chloride workers

Currently, there is a serious problem of the risk of developing oncopathology in chemical enterprises. Numerous workers in the chemical industry, including vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride (VC and PVC), are exposed to a complex of chemical compounds that, among other things, have carcinogenic effects and affect many body systems. The immune system has the ability to recognize malignant cells with subsequent activation and hyperactivation of immune responses, including cytokine production. To date, the details of cytokine control and, moreover, the ways of manipulating the antitumor immune response remain insufficiently studied.

The study aims to evaluate changes in serum concentrations of certain cancer markers, cytokines and their relationships in highly trained vinyl chloride production workers.

The authors have determined serum concentrations of cancer markers (CA 19-9; CEA) and interleukins (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, TNF-α, INF-γ) using the method of solid-phase enzyme immunoassay.

As a result of the study, the researchers found that the highest concentrations of carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) are characteristic of trained workers, and when analyzing their level of embryonic cancer antigen (CEA), its tendency to increase attracts attention, which significantly increases the likelihood of cancer pathology in workers. Also, in most workers of this production, we observed hyperproduction of IL-4, IL-8, TNF-α, INF-γ against the background of a decrease in IL-1β and IL-2. At the same time, an increase in the concentration of CA 19-9 was accompanied by a decrease in the levels of IL-8 and INF-γ, which may lead to the preservation of cancer risks.

Thus, the assessment of changes in the content of markers of oncopathology, inflammatory mediators and their relationships among workers in the production of VC and PVC indicates and confirms the role of violations of the mechanisms of immunoregulation underlying the formation of various pathologies, including oncological ones. Further study of the mechanisms of cytokine regulation of the antitumor immune response will contribute to improving the methods of early diagnosis and prevention of disorders in the body of workers at carcinogenic enterprises.

Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with Ethical standards in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association.

Contribution:
Bodienkova G.M. — research concepts and design, data collection and processing, writing the text, the editing;
Boklazhenko E.V. — research concepts and design, data collection and processing, writing the text.

Funding. The work was carried out at the expense of financial resources allocated within the framework of the State Task of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution VSIMEI.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 22.12.2023 / Accepted: 26.12.2023 / Published: 12.02.2024

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