Cytokines in cervicovaginal washing fluid from patients with cervical neoplasia

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections play an important role in the develop ment of cervical neoplasia. To get to a better understanding of the role of cytokines in the development of these neoplasias, we analysed the presence of various cytokines in cervicovaginal washings of healthy volunteers (n=2 2), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CEN) patients (n=63) and cervical c ancer patients (n=33). IL-12p40, IL-10, TGF-beta1, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta levels were significantly higher in patients with cervical cancer than in c ontrols and CIN patients. The levels of IFN-gamma were not different. Our d ata demonstrate alterations in the local cervical immune environment in cer vical cancer patients. This could have important consequences for the furth er development of immune modulating therapies and vaccination strategies. ( C) 2001 Academic Press.