Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
We hypothesized that in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the overexpression of protumorigenic interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity within the tumor tissue is a result of decreased expression of the specific antagonist or inhibitor (ie, IL-1 receptor antagonist) by the tumor cells. Ultimately, this local overexpression of IL-1 activity increases tumor growth and metastasis.


METHODS
To test our hypotheses, immunologic analysis for IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-1 receptor antagonist was performed on histologic sections and tumor homogenates of human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Normal and tumor specimens were obtained from patients undergoing surgical resections of the head and neck for benign and malignant disease.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-1 receptor antagonist within tumor cells and inflammatory cells in the tumor stroma in 19 of 19 tumor specimens. Quantitatively, IL-1 alpha was present in 19 of 19 tumor specimens (1.97 +/- 0.46 ng/mg of total protein [mean +/- SD]) and 5 of 9 normal specimens (0.23 +/- 0.12 ng/mg of total protein). All specimens contained IL-1 beta in detectable quantities (1.60 +/- 0.29 ng/mg of total protein in tumor specimens and 0.189 +/- 0.04 ng/mg of total protein in normal specimens). All specimens contained IL-1 receptor antagonist (368.87 +/- 57.63 ng/mg of total protein in tumor specimens and 585.10 +/- 166.03 ng/mg of total protein in normal specimens). The mean total IL-1/IL-1 receptor antagonist ratio was 13.26 +/- 2.31 in patients with cancer compared with 0.997 +/- 0.26 in normal patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased IL-1 index in the cancer state compared with the normal state reflects an imbalance of IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist, which may contribute to unrestricted growth and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
von Biberstein
S E
SE
Department of Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA.
Spiro
J D
JD
Lindquist
R
R
Kreutzer
D L
DL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D012044:Regression Analysis
D007375:Interleukin-1; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1