Interleukin-1 family expression in human breast cancer: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist

We hypothesize that interleukin-1 alpha, beta, and receptor antagonist (IL- 1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-1ra, respectively) are present and tumor cell as sociated in human breast cancer (HBC). We believe the levels of these cytok ines in breast tumor homogenates relate to other known prognosticators of p atient survival (i.e., estrogen receptor [ER] status). Our results demonstr ated that, immunohistochemically, tumor cells express IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta , and IL-1ra in most specimens tested. In breast tissue homogenates, IL-1 a lpha levels correlated inversely with ER levels (p < 0.06), whereas IL-1ra levels correlated directly with both ER levels (p < 0.009) and IL-1 beta le vels (p < 0.06). When analyzing cytokine levels for the ER (-) versus ER () patient groups, we found that in many instances these groups showed a dif ferent cytokine profile. These studies suggest that the IL-1 family of cyto kines may be important in regulating protumorigenic activities within the H BC tumor microenvironment.