EFFECTS OF LITHIUM-CARBONATE ON CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY BREAST-CANCER

It has been reported that lithium salt compounds influence hematopoies is, which is known to be regulated by a number of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 ( IL-6). Since lithium can induce TNF production in human monocytes, we wished to determine if lithium carbonate treatment of neutropenic pati ents affected by breast cancer results in increased cytokine productio n. Serum levels of TNF alpha, IL-1 and IL-6 were measured before and a t 7 and 180 days after treatment with lithium carbonate. Results indic ate that this therapy produced TNF alpha and IL-6, but not IL-1 alpha, elevations in patients affected by unmetastasized breast cancer. Conv ersely, TNF alpha, but not IL-6, elevations were detected in metastati c patients. Studies are under way to investigate the mechanisms by whi ch lithium salts affect cytokine production in monocytes from cancer p atients.