CYTOKINE PRODUCTION PROFILES IN THE PERITONEAL FLUIDS OF PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT OR BENIGN GYNECOLOGIC TUMORS

BACKGROUND. Cytokines play a key role in the regulation of cells of th e immune system and also have been implicated in the pathogenesis of m alignant diseases. Some cytokines have been shown to have potential in the diagnosis of cancer. METHODS, A total of 111 patients with ovaria n, cervical, or endometrial carcinomas or benign ovarian or uterine tu mors were enrolled on the study, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma, granulocyte-colony stimula ting factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GMCSF), macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), and tumor necro sis factor (TNF)-alpha were measured by cytokine specific, enzyme-link ed immunoadsorbent assays. In addition, ratios of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN- gamma production were studied to characterize the type of T-cell respo nse that occurred in the peritoneal cavities of the patients. RESULTS, High levels of M-CSF (mean for all patients, 26,050 pg/mL) and G-CSF (mean for all patients, 20,267 pg/mL) were observed in virtually all p atients, but no significant differences between the study groups were observed. Similarly, no differences in the levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 , IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, or TNF-alpha were found. However, IL-6 levels wer e significantly higher in patients with ovarian carcinoma (mean +/- st andard error of the mean [SEM]: 5572 +/- 1266) or benign tumors (mean +/- SEM: 4474 +/- 2008) than in those with cervical (mean +/- SEM: 122 2 +/- 546) or endometrial carcinoma (mean +/- SEM: 1977 +/- 616). A pr edominantly Th1 type cytokine profile, irrespective of the diagnosis, was observed in patients with gynecologic tumors. CONCLUSIONS. With th e exception of IL-6, the cytokine synthesis profiles in the peritoneal fluids of patients with benign and malignant gynecologic tumors were found to be similar. These results suggest that cytokine production in these patients is a result of nonspecific inflammation rather than a specific response against the tumor cells, and that skewing of cytokin e synthesis toward either the Th1 or the Th2 phenotype is not the unde rlying mechanism resulting in the malignant process in women with gyne cologic tumors. Cancer 1998;83:788-96, (C) 1998 American Cancer Societ y.