EFFECT OF 5-FLUOROURACIL TREATMENT ON IL-2R GENE-EXPRESSION IN GASTRIC-CARCINOMA PATIENTS

Interleukin-2R gene expression was evaluated in peripheral blood T lym phocytes of patients with gastric carcinoma and normal healthy control s. The presence of mRNA for IL-2R alpha evaluated by Northern blot ana lysis revealed that unstimulated T cells expressed lower levels of IL- 2R mRNA than PHA stimulated T cells. Expression of both IL-2R alpha tr anscripts (3.5 and 1.5 kb) were either not detectable or only weakly d etectable on T lymphocytes from patients even after mitogenic stimulat ion. In contrast, a significant rise in the expression of both IL-2R a lpha transcripts was observed on T cells from normal controls followed by mitogenic challenge. Enhanced expression of both IL-2R transcripts was also detected in a follow-up study of the patients, conducted one month following initial trial. of chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5 Fu). Patients post chemotherapy were better responders of PHA stimula tion as reflected by enhanced IL-2R gene expression following mitogeni c challenge.