While most studies have found elevated levels of cytokines in patients with BC, a study of 90 patients with BC and 15 healthy volunteers based on univariate analysis found no differences in baseline cytokine levels between the cancer patients and the healthy volunteers, as evidenced by plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α6. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is cancer.