Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors as Immune Modulators (GM-CSF & IL-3) in Newly Diagnosed Colorectal Cancer Patients and their Correlation with P53 Expression and Global DNA Methylation

Abstract

     Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a global medical problem that has a high rate of mortality. Interestingly, evaluating the hematopoietic growth factors is useful in the early diagnosis of CRC. Henceforth, this study was designed to measure the potential role of Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and Interleukin 3 (IL-3) in CRC progress and their relation to P53 expression and global DNA methylation (5mC).  Blood samples were collected from a total of 60 Iraqi patients who participated in this study and were diagnosed with CRC, and from 30 healthy volunteers who served as control for comparison purposes. Serum levels of GM-CSF and IL-3 were assessed quantitatively using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, DNA and RNA were extracted from the whole blood samples and DNA methylation and gene expression of P53 were estimated. There were significant differences in the serum levels of GM-CSF and IL-3 between CRC patients and controls. Also, a positive link between serum GM-CSF and IL-3 was detected. Regarding demographic characteristics of the patients (age, gender and CRC status) and GM-CSF, IL-3 were found to have statistically highly significant differences (P≤0.001). No significant correlation was found between levels of P53 expression, global DNA methylation between hematopoietic growth factors as immune modulators. The differences of GM-CSF and IL-3 at serum levels may be used as useful biomarkers for CRC progression.