Interleukin-8 expression in the urine after bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy: a potential prognostic factor of tumor recurrence and progression.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed whether interleukin-8 (IL-8), one of the first cytokines expressed in the urine after bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for superficial urothelial tumors, may serve as a prognostic factor for treatment response.


METHODS
Of 20 patients with superficial urothelial cancer of the urinary tract treated with BCG 13 had superficial bladder cancer and 7 received BCG perfusion of the upper urinary tract due to inoperability, solitary kidney, renal insufficiency or bilateral disease. After intravesical instillation of 120 mg. BCG or after 2-hour perfusion of the upper urinary tract with 360 mg. BCG urine was collected at 6-hour intervals. IL-8 was determined by solid phase double ligand enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
IL-8 was stable in the urine for more than 48 hours. At a median followup of 36.5 months treatment failure occurred in 10 of the 20 patients, including 3 with recurrence, 6 with progressive disease and 1 with extensive carcinoma in situ. IL-8 excretion was more than 4,000 ng. in the first 6 hours after BCG therapy in all 10 patients who remained disease-free. In 9 of the 10 patients with recurrent disease IL-8 excretion was less than 4,000 ng. in the first 6 hours after BCG therapy. Patients secreting less than 4,000 ng. IL-8 into the urine during the first 6 hours after BCG therapy had a significantly higher risk of tumor recurrence and progression (p <0.0002).


CONCLUSIONS
Due to its stability and kinetics IL-8 determined in urine collected during the first 6 hours after BCG therapy may prove to be a prognostic factor for tumor recurrence and progression after BCG therapy.
Thalmann
G N
GN
Department of Urology, Inselspital and Theodor-Kocher Institute, University of Berne, Switzerland.
Dewald
B
B
Baggiolini
M
M
Studer
U E
UE
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D016209:Interleukin-8