Interleukins as a potential link between obstructive sleep apnea and renal cell carcinoma

Katarzyna Stańska-Kowalik; Kamila Maliszewska-Olejniczak; Michał Fiedorowicz; Anna M. Czarnecka; Wojciech Kukwa

doi:10.5114/wo.2025.151584

eISSN: 1897-4309
ISSN: 1428-2526

Contemporary Oncology/Współczesna Onkologia

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2/2025
vol. 29

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abstract:

Review paper

Interleukins as a potential link between obstructive sleep apnea and renal cell carcinoma

Katarzyna Stańska-Kowalik

¹

,

Kamila Maliszewska-Olejniczak

²

,

Michał Fiedorowicz

³

,

Anna M. Czarnecka

⁴

,

Wojciech Kukwa

⁵

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital in Sanok, Sanok, Poland
Department of Physics and Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Warszawa, Poland
Small Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laboratory, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
Outpatient Chemotherapy Department, Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warszawa, Poland
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University, Warszawa, Poland

Contemp Oncol (Pozn) 2025; 29 (2): 131–149

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/wo.2025.151584

Online publish date: 2025/05/28

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Introduction:
Intermittent hypoxia and the inflammatory processes occur in both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In recent years, multiple studies have shown a dose-dependent effect of OSA on the risk and prognosis of RCC. However, the pathogenesis of this process is still unknown. This study aimed to review the literature and identify the similarities in cytokine profiles of patients with OSA and RCC.

Material and methods:
We included articles in English assessing cytokine levels in pediatric and adult patients with OSA and in patients with RCC. The exclusion criteria were animal and in vitro studies. The PubMed database was searched for articles.

Results:
After analyzing the search results, 66 articles were selected. Twenty different interleukins were studied in OSA research. Most RCC pro-cancerogenic cytokines (IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-18, IL-23, IL-33) had higher levels in OSA patients than in controls.

Conclusions:
This review emphasizes similarities in a spectrum of cytokines in OSA and RCC patients, with significantly elevated levels of RCC pro-cancerogenic interleukins in OSA patients. This may suggest a possible link between untreated OSA and the prognosis of RCC. Also, the treatment of OSA with continuous positive airway pressure led to a decrease in pro-cancerogenic cytokines, which could have important therapeutic implications in OSA-positive patients treated for RCC.

keywords:

Interleukins as a potential link between obstructive sleep apnea and renal cell carcinoma

Katarzyna Stańska-Kowalik 1 , Kamila Maliszewska-Olejniczak 2 , Michał Fiedorowicz 3 , Anna M. Czarnecka 4 , Wojciech Kukwa 5

obstructive sleep apnea, hypoxia, intermittent hypoxia, renal cell carcinoma, interleukin

Katarzyna Stańska-Kowalik

¹

,

Kamila Maliszewska-Olejniczak

²

,

Michał Fiedorowicz

³

,

Anna M. Czarnecka

⁴

,

Wojciech Kukwa

⁵