Increased secretion of interleukin-6 in malignant mesothelioma cells from a patient with marked thrombocytosis.
BACKGROUND
A high prevalence of thrombocytosis in malignant mesothelioma has been reported, although its pathogenesis remains unknown.


METHODS
The case of a patient with marked thrombocytosis in peritoneal malignant mesothelioma is reported. To investigate the cytokines responsible for thrombocytosis in this patient, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical analysis were used.


RESULTS
Tumor cells produced large amounts of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and small amounts of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and monocyte colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Immunocytochemical staining of tumor cells showed strong positivity for IL-6.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicated that persistent secretion of IL-6 promoted thrombogenesis in this patient.
Higashihara
M
M
First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Sunaga
S
S
Tange
T
T
Oohashi
H
H
Kurokawa
K
K
D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000209:etiology*
D015850:Interleukin-6