Detection of urinary interleukin-2, interleukin-2 receptor, and tumor necrosis factor levels in patients with superficial bladder tumors after intravesical BCG immunotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of urinary cytokines, after bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy, in order to provide further insight into the mechanisms of action of intravesical BCG therapy.


METHODS
Urine levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) levels were determined in 34 patients with superficial bladder tumors after a six-week course of intravesical BCG therapy. The urine samples were obtained at the fifth hour following the sixth course of therapy and the determinations were made by using an (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) technique.


RESULTS
The pre-BCG levels of IL-2, IL-2R, and TNF (32.1 ng/L, 21.1 ng/L, 37.6 micrograms/L, respectively) were increased significantly after therapy (175.2 ng/L, 54.4 ng/L, 625.9 micrograms/L, respectively). These levels remained significantly increased after all patients were stratified according to tumor and patient characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study provide further evidence for the immunologic basis of the mechanism of action of intravesical BCG therapy.
Balbay
D
D
Department of Urology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Ozen
H
H
Ozkardes
H
H
Barut
A
A
Bakkaloglu
M
M
Tasar
C
C
Remzi
D
D
D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000652:urine*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha