Background:
In an attempt to evaluate the usefulness of some cytokine as parameters of status of immune dysfunction in patients with cancer, the authors measured serum levels of soluble interleukin-2(sIL-2R), interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor
(TNF)
in 23 cases of stomach cancer, 9 cases of rectal cancer, 5 cases of cholangiocarcinoma and 5 cases of breast cancer as well as 13 cases of healthy adult subjects as control.
Methods:
All blood samples were obtained from veins of the patients and control subjects in Pusan National University Hospital in the period of January to August, 1993. The serum level of sIL-2R, IL-6 and TNF were measured by sandwich enzyme
immunoassay.
Results:
The serum levels of sIL-2R were significantly higher in stomach, rectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma and breast cancer patients, as compared with healthy adult subjects. The serum levels of IL-6 and TNF were not different between healthy adult
subjects and cancer patients, such as stomach, rectal and breast cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma.
Conclusions:
On the basis of this results, it may be suggested that serum sIL-2R can be useful parameter providing status of cellular immune response in patients with cancer. Serum levels of IL-6 and TNF may not useful parameter reflecting status of
cellular
immune reaction in cancer patients.
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