EX-VIVO CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY WHOLE-BLOOD CELLS FROM CANCER-PATIENTS

It has been hypothesized that the development of cancer might partiall y result from a diminution of immunocompetence. Using ex vivo cytokine production by whole blood (WE) cells after polyclonal activation, we compared cytokine production levels of cancer patients to those of hea lthy controls. Seventeen patients without any prior treatment and atte nding the hospital for oncological surgery (for cancers of several ori gins) were enrolled in the study. WE was collected in heparinized tube s, diluted 1/10 in RPMI 1640 and incubated for 2, 4, 24, 48, and 72 h at 37 degrees C in the presence of 5 mu g/ml PHA and 25 mu g/ml LPS. C ytokine levels in the supernatant were measured by specific immunoassa y kits. IL-IO levels after 24 h of culture, IFN-gamma and GM-CSF level s after 24 and 72 h of culture, and LIF levels after 72 h of culture w ere significantly lower in cancer patients than in healthy controls. N o significant difference was observed for IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha production at any culture time. Our results sugge st that the putative immunosuppression of cancer patients might be ref lected by their reduced production of immunostimulated cytokines.