title: Ascitic fluid-associated lymphocytes in patients with metastatic ovarian cancer. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets and of phenotypical changes induced by "in vitro".
abstract: Ascitic fluid and peripheral blood samples, from seven patients affected by peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to ovarian tumors, were analyzed to examine the phenotypic properties of ascitic fluid-associated lymphocytes (AFAL) and then asses T-cell activities in the presence of different interleukins. The AFALs showed a relative enrichment of CD2+, CD3+, CD5+, CD4+ T cells compared to the peripheral blood samples, while the contrary was true for CD56+ and CD57+ cells. The same phenomenon was observed in both CD3+, CD56+ and CD2+, CD56+ cell populations. Fewer CD71+ and CD25+ cells were found in the ascitic fluid suspensions whilst the opposite was true for HLA-DR+ lymphocytes. The data obtained from the in vitro incubation of AFALs in the presence of IL-1 (or), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 or IFN showed that IL-1, IL-2 and IFN- can induce a two-fold increase in the percentages of HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes. IL-6, IL-2 and IL-1 seemed to have a fairly modest effect on CD25. A better survival of CD56+ cells was found only in the presence of IL-4 and IL-6. Even though preliminary and based on a limited number of patients, our results would seem to invite caution in instituting intraperitoneal administration of one or more cytokines for the treatment of such lesions in humans.
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loiudice
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dell'Osso
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: D'Ambra
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lasaracina
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crollo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucivero
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines