title: Cytokine expression in colon carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytokines reflect the activity of the immune system. We analyzed the local expression of characteristic cytokines indicating the level of activity of unspecific inflammatory cells, Th1-cells and Th2-cells in colon cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 25 tumor/ mucosa pairs, IL-1alpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-15, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were measured by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in IL-1alpha, IL-4, IL-5 and TNF-alpha and a significant decrease in IL-2 in tumor tissue compared to normal mucosa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cytokine profile in colon cancer indicates a strong unspecific inflammatory reaction in the tumor tissue represented by high levels of IL-1 and TNF-alpha. The comparatively low level of IL-2 suggests suppression of a specific immunological reaction, namely Th1-cells. It can be hypothesized that this is a result and/or cause of local immune escape mechanisms. Furthermore, there is an activation of TH2 cells in the carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: University of Freiburg, Department of Surgery, Freiburg, Germany. baier@chir.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Baier
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolff-Vorbeck
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eggstein
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Ulrich T
authors.initials: UT
authors.lastname: Hopt
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D007378:Interleukins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma