Due to their multidirectional influence, adipocytokines are currently the subject of numerous intensive studies. Significant impact applies to many processes, both physiological and pathological. Moreover, the role of adipocytokines in carcinogenesis seems particularly interesting and not fully understood. For this reason, ongoing research focuses on the role of these compounds in the network of interactions in the tumor microenvironment. Particular attention should be drawn to cancers that remain challenging for modern gynecological oncology—ovarian and endometrial cancer. This paper presents the role of selected adipocytokines, including leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, apelin, chemerin, omentin and vaspin in cancer, with a particular focus on ovarian and endometrial cancer, and their potential clinical relevance.

The C‑X‑C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8)‑C‑X‑C chemokine receptor (CXCR)1/2 signalling axis is among numerous mechanisms which stimulate the immune system to defend against tumour growth and influence the tumour microenvironment to promote tumour growth. This pathway plays an important role in the development of a number of cancers including breast cancer (BC). The aim of the present study was to analyse the levels of the chemokine CXCL8 and its receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2, in the serum of female patients with invasive BC and to assess the expression of these parameters at the mRNA level, considering molecular subtypes and degrees of cancer malignancy. The study group consisted of 62 patients with histopathologically confirmed invasive BC. The control group consisted of 18 patients with histopathologically confirmed fibroadenoma, a benign breast tumour. The levels of CXCL8, CXCR1 and CXCR2 were determined by sandwich ELISA using the CLOUD‑CLONE ELISA kit. CXCL8, CXCR1 and CXCR2 transcript levels were analysed using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. Results showed that serum CXCL8 levels in female patients with invasive BC were significantly higher compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). In addition, significantly elevated CXCR1 levels were observed in luminal B human epidermal growth factor receptor 2+ carcinoma compared with those in the control group. Analysis of CXCL8 in the serum of female patients with BC showed a statistically significant difference between clinical stage G1 and G2 (P<0.05), G2 and G3 (P<0.01), and G1 and G3 (P<0.0001). On the other hand, the analysis of CXCR1 and CXCR2 levels in the serum of the patients revealed a statistically significant difference between G2 and G3 (P<0.05). The current study showed that abnormalities in the immune response involving the CXCL8‑CXCR1/2 signalling axis in patients with invasive BC are involved in the development of these tumours. Moreover, the demonstrated severity of changes occurring at protein level may suggest the potential usefulness of their determination as potential diagnostic markers in the clinic.

In the pathomechanism of ovarian cancer development, an important role is attributed to the chronic inflammatory process. Still, despite numerous studies, it has not been fully elucidated how immune inflammatory processes influence the development of ovarian cancer. Immune system mediators – cytokines, especially interleukin-1 family members – are involved in interactions between cancer cells and immune cells. Therefore, learning about the relationship between the coexistence of inflammatory and neoplastic processes in ovarian cancer involving these molecules may contribute to a better understanding of the importance of the studied parameters in the pathogenesis of cancer, which may also translate into improved clinical efficacy. In the present study, for the first time, the analysis between the levels of all 11 members of the IL-1 family (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-18, IL-33, IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ, IL-37, IL-1Ra, IL-36Ra, IL-38) has been made, which belong to the main inflammatory cytokines, in both serum and peritoneal fluid of ovarian cancer patients. The analysis revealed differences in the concentration of individual members of IL-1 in both serum and peritoneal fluid between the study group and the reference group, as well as between G1, G2 and G3 stages of ovarian cancer, and differences in the ratio between the interleukins studied. The results indicate the involvement of the studied parameters in the pathomechanism of ovarian cancer development and the regulation of stimulation of inflammation accompanying ovarian cancer. Disruption of the secretion of secreted cytokines in serum and peritoneal fluid in patients with ovarian cancer may lead to their pro-inflammatory activation, indicating that modulation of cytokines of the IL-1 family may affect the course of the inflammatory process that accompanies the development of cancer. The observed perturbations involving the cytokines studied may represent one of the more important immune mechanisms that promote the development of this cancer, indicating the need for new complex therapies targeting a wide variety of immune response mechanisms, but this requires further, more advanced research.

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumours in women worldwide. Although modern medicine has led to advanced diagnostic methods and therapies that allow for increasingly effective treatment, the mechanisms underlying breast cancer development and progression remain the subject of intensive research. In the pathogenesis of this cancer, significant importance is attributed to interactions between tumour cells and the tumour microenvironment, in which soluble immune system mediators—cytokines—play a key role, including IL-21 and IL-22. These interleukins, by modulating the immune response, can both promote and inhibit tumour progression, and analysing their concentrations may prove helpful in diagnosis, disease progression prognosis, and the development of new therapies, including immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of IL-21 and IL-22 in a group of patients with invasive cancer, depending on the biological type of the tumour and its malignancy grade. The study involved 60 women with breast cancer and 20 women with benign breast lesions, and the analysis of IL-21 and IL-22 protein concentrations was performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The analysis shows that the concentrations of IL-21 and IL-22 do not differ significantly depending on the malignancy grade of the tumour. However, a statistically significant negative correlation between the concentrations of IL-21 and IL-22 was observed exclusively in the group of patients with benign breast lesions. Due to the high heterogeneity of breast cancers, further research with a larger study group is necessary to better understand these parameters and possibly apply them clinically in patients with breast cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a major clinical problem in gynaecological oncology, characterised by difficulties in early diagnosis, which contributes to the high mortality rate from OC. Therefore, the search for new biological markers continues, which could complement the diagnostic process in the future and potentially improve patient prognosis. Recently, the role of adipokines and accompanying inflammation in carcinogenesis mechanisms, including within the ovary, has become a subject of scientific interest. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of irisin, chemerin, lipocalin-2 and omentin-1 in the serum and peritoneal fluid of patients with ovarian cancer, as well as in the serum of patients with benign ovarian lesions. The analysis showed differences in the concentrations of these molecules between the study groups. Certain correlations were also observed between the levels of selected adipokines and the degree of histological differentiation of the tumour. The observed immune disorders associated with adipokine profiles suggest that they may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of ovarian cancer, acting as one of the factors modulating the inflammatory environment of the tumour. From a clinical point of view, the potential application of measuring the concentrations of these adipokines – for example, in combination with known markers such as CRP or CA125 – increases diagnostic effectiveness compared to single measurement of these parameters, but requires further verification. At this stage, they can only serve as a starting point for discussion on new diagnostic methods.