Background: Similar to other cancers, the development of salivary gland cancers (SGCs) is influenced by the tumor microenvironment and controlled by the host’s immune system. Interleukin-38 (IL-38) is highly expressed in inflammatory conditions to prevent excessive inflammatory responses and tissue injury; however, its role in SGCs remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate IL-38 serum levels in Iranian patients with benign and malignant SGCs and in healthy individuals to explore its potential as a diagnostic biomarker for SGCs. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, IL-38 levels were measured in serum samples from 120 patients with SGCs (64 benign and 56 malignant cases) and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy control participants using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results: There was a significant difference in IL-38 serum levels between patients and the control group (49.1±6.2 ng/L vs. 38.6±6.8 ng/L, P0.05). Conclusion: This study, for the first time, supports the clinical value of IL-38 serum levels as a valuable biomarker for diagnosing patients with SGCs. Focusing on IL-38 production or its release mechanism could offer therapeutic benefits for these patients. However, further research with a larger sample is required.
Tadayon et al. (Mon,) studied this question.