GROWTH MODULATORY EFFECTS OF GRANULOCYTE-MACROPHAGE COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR ON HUMAN CELL-LINES DERIVED FROM GYNECOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES

OBJECTIVE: In spite of increased expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor surface receptors on solid tumors, the growt h modulatory effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating fact or have not been well defined in gynecologic malignancies. We assessed the in vitro growth effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulat ing factor on such cell links. STUDY DESIGN: By use of a chromium 51 i ncorporation assay the in vitro growth effects of granulocyte-macropha ge colony-stimulating factor on 12 cell lines derived from human malig nancies were measured. RESULTS: No growth stimulatory or inhibitory ef fect was mediated by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on Six cell lines, whereas three lines showed consistent but not stati stically significant dose-dependent growth stimulation. There was, how ever, a statistically significant increase in growth of short duration in three other cell lines at clinically relevant doses of granulocyte -macrophage colony-stimulating factor Fluorometric cell cycle analysis demonstrated no change in cell-cycle distribution. CONCLUSION: Within this in vitro system, stimulation of gynecologic malignancies in pati ents receiving granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor for mi tigation of the myelosuppressive effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy doe s not appear to be widespread nor sustained beyond 48 hours.