INDUCIBILITY OF ENDOGENOUS TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR BY TUMOR-CELLS FROM COLORECTAL TUMOR PATIENTS AT DUKES STAGE-C AS A NOVEL PROGNOSTIC FACTOR FOLLOWING CURATIVE OPERATION

PURPOSE: It is well known that tumor cells secrete endogenous tumor ne crosis factor (en-TNF) as a cytokine when stimulated with Lipopolysacc haride (LPS). We, therefore, analyzed the biologic role of en=TNF secr eted by tumor cells themselves to learn the prognosis of patients and the susceptibility of tumors to biologic response modifiers in particu lar. METHODS: Patients with Dukes C colorectal tumors were studied aft er curative operation to determine the inducibility of en-TNF by their primary cultured cells in response to LPS. RESULTS: Irrespective of t he known clinicopathologic factors of the tumors, en-TNF was produced in 21 of a total of 44 patients. The group of patients with clear en-T NF production showed a significantly lower incidence of recurrence and /or metastasis and a higher survival rate than the group without en-TN F production, suggesting a strong correlation between patient prognosi s and inducibility of en-TNF. CONCLUSION: Inducibility of en-TNF by tu mor cells themselves can be a novel prognostic factor for patients wit h colorectal tumor, especially of Dukes Stage C.