title: Effects of PSK on interleukin-2 production by peripheral lymphocytes of patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma during chemotherapy.
abstract: The effects of PSK on OKT 4/OKT 8 cell ratio, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and expression of IL-2 receptor were examined in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with advanced ovarian cancer during the course of chemotherapy. Preoperative levels of OKT 4/OKT 8 cell ratio and IL-2 production in PBL from patients with advanced ovarian cancer were significantly lower than those in cases of benign ovarian tumor. However, the expression of IL-2 receptor did not show any significant difference between ovarian cancer and benign ovarian tumor patients. When a combination chemotherapy of cisplatin, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide was given, the OKT 4/OKT 8 cell ratio was significantly increased with a significant decrease of the absolute number of the OKT 8 cell subset, while the expression of IL-2 receptor and the absolute number of the OKT 4 cell subset remained unchanged. In contrast, the IL-2 production was markedly depressed after the first course of chemotherapy. When PSK was combined with combination chemotherapy, the degree of inhibition of IL-2 production was reduced (though the effect was not statistically significant). If treatment with PSK was initiated after completion of combination chemotherapy, in addition to a significant elevation of OKT 4/OKT 8 cell ratio the depressed IL-2 production was restored to benign control levels. On the other hand, the expression of IL-2 receptor remained unchanged even if PSK was given after completion of chemotherapy.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011509:Proteoglycans; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C010770:polysaccharide-K