Interleukin 10 expression is correlated with thrombospondin expression anddecreased vascular involvement in colon cancer

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is an immune-suppressive cytokine produced by T-lymp hocytes, and a regulatory molecule for angiogenesis in various cancers. We examined IL-10 gene expression in 53 colon cancer patients who underwent su rgical resection. IL-10 gene expression was correlated with TSP1 and TSP2 g ene expression (P = 0.0049, P = 0.0285). Colon cancer with IL-10 gene expre ssion (19/53) showed significantly decreased venous involvement (P = 0.0433 ). The mean vessel counts in the colon cancers with IL-10 gene expression w ere significantly lower than those without IL-10 gene expression (P < 0.001 ). These results suggested that IL-10 stimulates angiostatic factor gene ex pression, and results in suppression of venous involvement.