t-helper type 1 and 2 cytokine levels in patients with benign and malignant salivary gland tumors

background: salivary gland tumors are among malignancies that have high recurrence rate. immune responses in salivary gland tumors have not been well elucidated. t helper type 1 (th1) and th2 cytokines have been reported to play a role in the outcome of head and neck cancers. objective: to evaluate the serum levels of interferon gamma (ifn- γ), as the hallmark of th1 cytokines, and interleukin-4 (il-4), as the hallmark of th2 cytokines, in patients with benign and malignant salivary gland tumors in comparison with healthy controls. methods: fifty patients with benign and 14 patients with malignant salivary gland tumors, as well as 23 healthy individuals were recruited. serum levels of ifn-γ and il-4 were measured using elisa method. nonparametric tests were used for data analysis. results: serum levels of ifn-γ and il-4 were found not to be significantly different in patients compared to the control group (0.68 ± 0.29 vs. 1.03 ± 0.57 pg/ml, p=0.58 for ifn-γ, 4.57 ± 1.57 vs. 4.41 ± 1.31 pg/ml, p=0.28 for il-4). ifn-γ and il-4 serum levels were also not significantly different between patients with benign and malignant salivary gland tumors (p=0.54 and p=0.86, respectively). conclusion: the systemic levels of il-4 and ifn-γ seem not to be associated with salivary gland tumor in our study. investigation of other cytokines produced by th1 and th2 cells are warranted.