PRODUCTION OF IL-5, A CLASSICAL T(H)2 CYTOKINE, FOLLOWING BACILLUS-CALMETTE-GUERIN IMMUNOTHERAPY OF BLADDER-CANCER

Among the many immunological events associated with successful intrave sical bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy of bladder cancer i s the induction of a wide range of cytokines including the T helper 2 (T(H)2) designated cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10, but not I L-4, in the urine of the patients. The aim of this work was to determi ne if this treatment resulted in the production of IL-5, a classical T (H)2 cytokine. Following treatment using ELISA this cytokine was detec ted in the urine of all patients examined confirming that intravesical BCG therapy does not induce in bladder cancer patients solely a T(H)1 response but rather T(H)1/2 or T(H)0 like response.