Evaluation of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) Levels before and after Radiotherapy in Thyroid Carcinoma Patients

Background: Thyroid cancer is a health concern and the most common endocrine tumor in adults with a significant increase in incidence in recent years. Objective: This study investigates the role of interleukin-8 in thyroid cancer patients before and after treatment with radiotherapy and study association of it with tumor progression and inflammatory response as part of the tumor microenvironment. Subjects and Methods: A total of 45 thyroid cancer patients (21 male and 24 female) in the educational laboratories/Medical City Hospital/Baghdad from February to April 2025. participated based on the recommendations of the specialist physician after the results of clinical examination, X-ray imaging, and laboratory tests, and 18 healthy controls participated in the study. IL-8 levels were measured before and after treatment with radiotherapy using an ELISA kit, and statistical analyses were performed to assess differences between groups while taking into account demographic characteristics Result: Thyroid cancer patients showed significantly elevated levels of interleukin-8 compared to controls; IL-8 levels increased significantly after radiotherapy, indicating an enhanced inflammatory response. Conclusion: The results emphasize the potential role of interleukin-8 as a biomarker for assessing thyroid cancer progression and response to radiotherapy, highlighting its role in the tumor microenvironment and its implications for patient management.