Immunometabolic landscape of glioblastoma – a comparative analysis of circulating cytokines and biochemical markers

Introduction
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumour in adults. Systemic immunometabolic alterations are increasingly implicated in its pathogenesis, yet sex- and age-specific patterns remain unclear, especially in Uzbekistan. To characterize circulating cytokine and biochemical profiles in newly diagnosed GBM patients and assess sex- and age-related differences.

Material and methods
This cross-sectional study included 26 GBM patients (18 females, 8 males) and 26 matched healthy controls. Serum interleukin (IL)-10, IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IFN-γ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and biochemical parameters (alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase – ALT, aspartate aminotransferase – AST, bilirubin, calcium, magnesium, iron, creatinine, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase – LDH, phosphorus) were analysed by automated assays. Data were evaluated using ANOVA, t-tests, correlations, and principal component analysis (p < 0.05).

Results
No sex-based differences were observed (p > 0.05). Older patients had higher uric acid (p = 0.029) and borderline elevated IL-10 (p = 0.048) levels. Pro-inflammatory cytokines correlated with metabolic markers (ALT, AST, uric acid, LDH) and bilirubin correlated with iron/LDH.

Conclusions
Glioblastoma-related immunometabolic profiles are influenced mainly by tumour-intrinsic factors rather than sex, while age contributes to metabolic shifts. These findings provide novel regional data and support cytokine-biochemical profiling for biomarker development.