[Intracellular glutathione (GSH) of monocytes (Mo) directs the development of peritumoral stroma in patients with colon carcinoma].
BACKGROUND
One of the unresolved issues related to immunotherapy for cancers is how to predict the degree of growth of tumor stroma at the periphery of the tumor. We examined the feasibility of predicting stromal growth by measuring the glutathione (GSH) level in monocytes as an indicator of the local redox state of cancer, reflecting anti-tumor immune responses.


METHODS
Blood was drawn preoperatively from 21 patients with colorectal cancer. Monocytes were isolated from each blood sample and observed under a fluorescent microscope after fluorescent dye staining. The chromatic responses were rated on a three-grade scale: strongly positive, moderately positive and weakly positive. The monocytes were counted in each grade, and the GSH score was calculated. After surgery, pathology specimens of resected tissue were observed under a microscope to measure the percentage of the surface area of stroma in a given visual field at a magnification of x200. The percentage of stromal surface area was measured for three visual fields (near the deepest area of the tumor) to calculate the stroma score.


RESULTS
The mean GSH score was 290.2. The mean stroma score was 60.8. There was a significant correlation between the GSH score and the stroma score (r = 0.421, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The monocyte GSH level may serve as a predictor of stromal growth.
Matsuzaki
Tomohiko
T
Dept of Surgery, Kinki University School of Medicine.
Okuno
Kiyotaka
K
Uno
Kazuko
K
Yoshifuji
Takehito
T
Hida
Jin-ichi
J
Shiozaki
Hitoshi
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005978:Glutathione