Interleukin 2 production in lymphocyte cultures: a rapid test for cancer-associated immunodeficiency in malignant cervical neoplasia.
Peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with malignant cervical neoplasia were studied for their capacity to produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) upon in vitro mitogen stimulation. Patients with early disease (Stage I/IIA) showed levels comparable to normal controls but those with advanced disease showed reduced levels, the reduction increasing with tumour load. These findings excellently correlated with our previous observations on a depressed cellular immunity in these patients. On follow up of the patients it was noticed that those who developed recurrent disease showed sustained lower levels of IL-2 production compared to those who remained disease free. These results stress the importance of a deranged immune system in these patients and also shows the clinical and prognostic value of such an assay.
Radhakrishna Pillai
M
M
Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Center, Trivandrum, India.
Balaram
P
P
Bindu
S
S
Hareendran
N K
NK
Padmanabhan
T K
TK
Nair
M K
MK
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy
D007376:Interleukin-2