Recombinant human interleukin-11 is unlikely to stimulate the growth of the most common solid tumors.
Recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) has been shown to enhance recovery from thrombocytopenia and mucosal injury after cancer chemotherapy. Since RNA for the receptor and signal transducer for IL-11 is detected in many cell types including some cancer cells, it was theoretically possible that rhIL-11 could affect the growth of tumor cells. This study was intended to determine whether rhIL-11 stimulates the proliferation of human tumor colony-forming units (TCFUs) taken directly from patients. Tumor cells were cultured in soft agar and continuously exposed to three concentrations of rhIL-11 (1.0, 10.0 and 100.0 U/ml) for 14 days in the capillary cloning system. Growth stimulation was noted in two of 66 (3%) of evaluable specimens, including one of 14 evaluable non-small cell lung cancer and one of five evaluable colon cancer specimens. In these two specimens, there was no increased stimulation of TCFUs with escalating concentrations of rhIL-11. Interestingly, the highest concentration of rhIL-11 tested inhibited the growth of 16 specimens (24.2%; 95% confidence interval 13.9-34.5%). Growth inhibition demonstrated a concentration-response relationship (p < 0.001). These results suggest that rhIL-11 appears unlikely to stimulate the growth of the most common solid tumors.
Soda
H
H
Translational Research Laboratory, Institute for Drug Development-Cancer Therapy and Research Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Raymond
E
E
Sharma
S
S
Lawrence
R
R
Cerna
C
C
Gomez
L
L
Schaub
R
R
Von Hoff
D D
DD
Izbicka
E
E
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017370:Interleukin-11; D011994:Recombinant Proteins