Interleukin-10 and interferon-gamma levels within the peritoneal cavity ofpatients with gastric cancer

Background and Objectives: Immune status in the peritoneal cavity of patien ts with gastric cancer remains largely unknown. To clarify the clinical sig nificance of the host immune response within the peritoneal cavity, we exam ined the levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a type 1 cytokine, and int erleukin-10 (IL-10), a type 2 cytokine, in peritoneal washings obtained fro m patients with gastric cancer. Methods: Both the concentrations of IFN-gamma and of IL-10 in peritoneal wa shings obtained during surgery from 56 patients with gastric cancer were de termined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The IFN-gamma level was not correlated with the IL-10 level. The I L-10 level increased in a stage-dependent manner. The high IL-10 level corr elated with an unfavorable outcome, whereas there was no relationship betwe en the IFN-gamma level and survival rate. However, among the stage III-IV c ancer patients, the high IFN-gamma level correlated with a favorable outcom e, while there was no relationship between the IL-10 level and survival rat e. Conclusions: Although the IL-10 level increases with tumor progression, the outcome of patients with advanced gastric cancer may be affected by the IF N-gamma level, but not by the IL-10 level, in the peritoneal cavity. J. Sur g. Oncol. 2001;78:124-130. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.