IL-1 and TNF-alpha but no IL-2 expression is found in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck by RT-PCR.
We studied the expression of IL-1 (Interleukin 1), IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF (granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor), TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and IFN-gamma (Interferon gamma) in tumor specimens and adjacent mucosa from 12 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) by reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No IL-2 and IL-4 expression was detected in any of the tumor specimens. High level expression of IL-1 and TNF-alpha was found in all 12 samples analyzed. Expression of GM-CSF was detected in 7 (58%) of 12 tumors, IL-10 was found in 3 (25%) and IFN-gamma in 6 (50%) of the samples. No qualitative differences in the cyotokine expression pattern were found between normal and tumor tissue. Our data indicate that there is a lack of cytokines typical for a specific, T-cell mediated immune response in SCCHN. A number of cytokines which are required for the initial steps of immune response however are produced. These results might have implications for future immuno-chemotherapeutical strategies.
Knerer
B
B
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
Hulla
W
W
Martinek
H
H
Formanek
M
M
Temmel
A
A
Kornfehl
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor