Expression of IL-18, IL-18 Binding Protein, and IL-18 Receptor by Normal and Cancerous Human Ovarian Tissues: Possible Implication of IL-18 in the Pathogenesis of Ovarian Carcinoma

Table 1

IL-18 and IL-18BP expression in normal and cancerous ovarian tissue homogenates.

Cell type	IL-18			IL-18BP
	𝑁 (total)	𝑛 (positive)	Positive samples (%)	𝑁 (total)	𝑛 (positive)	Positive samples (%)
Normal	38	28	73.7	18	18	100
Carcinoma^a	25	24	96	10	10	100
Serous papillary^b	17	17	100	9	9	100
Endometrioid^b	3	3	100	N.D	N.D	N.D
Undifferentiated^b	3	2	66.7	N.D	N.D	N.D
Clear cell^b	2	2	100	1	1	100

Normal and cancerous ovarian samples were homogenized and examined for IL-18 and IL-18BP protein levels by specific ELISA kits. The sum of the total samples tested (𝑁), the sum of the positive expression samples (𝑛), and the percentage of the positive samples of the total samples examined (%) are presented. N.D: not determined. ^aTotal cancerous samples; ^bdivision into the different types of cancer.