title: Cytokine release from mononuclear cells in patients irradiated for breast cancer.
abstract: Mononuclear cells from blood of 19 breast cancer patients were cultured in vitro before and following postoperative radiation treatment. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) were determined in supernatants from stimulated and unstimulated cultures with or without addition of indomethacin. The release of all three cytokines was uninhibited in tumour patients. Spontaneous IL-1 secretion was increased in patients compared to controls. Indomethacin enhanced IFN-gamma release and spontaneous and induced TNF-alpha secretion in all groups but stimulated IL-1 only in irradiated patients. In patients with a low tumour burden, ability to produce cytokines seems to be unchanged although increased spontaneous IL-1 secretion indicates macrophage activation. Cyclooxygenase inhibition in conjunction with irradiation might be tried as a therapeutic modality in patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Central Microbiological Laboratory Stockholm County Council, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petrini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vedin
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Glas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blomgren
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Ekre
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Strannegård
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007213:Indomethacin