Role of serum IL-35 levels in patients with benign and malignant primary ovarian tumors: a case-control study

IL-35 is known to enhance tumor progression by promoting angiogenesis, increasing cancer cell proliferation, and facilitating immune suppression. Elevated levels of IL-35 have been correlated with the severity of malignancy and clinical stage in various cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum IL-35 levels and the presence and clinicopathological features of primary benign and malignant ovarian tumors. This case-control study consisted of 60 women diagnosed with primary benign and malignant ovarian tumors and 60 age-matched healthy controls. The demographic and clinicopathological data were also collected. The serum level of IL-35 was evaluated using an ELISA kit, and the results were analyzed using SPSS software. The patients had a mean age of 47.93 ± 14.52 which was similar to that of the controls (53.43 ± 11.69) (P = 0.519). The mean serum level of IL-35 was 7.01 ± 0.843 pg/ml in the control group and 7.24 ± 0.811 pg/ml in the patient group (P = 0.213). There was no significant difference in serum IL-35 levels between the tumor types (P = 0.991). There was also no significant association between serum IL-35 levels and disease stage (P = 0.559), grade (P = 0.635), lymph node involvement (P = 0.091), or tumor size (P = 0.564). No significant difference in serum IL-35 levels was observed between the patient and control groups, nor was there a significant association between IL-35 levels and tumor characteristics (stage, grade, size, lymph node involvement. However, further studies with more cases at different stages of the disease are necessary.