title: Changes in cytokine profile during local IL-2 therapy in cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2) can influence the complex cytokine network in vivo. This study investigated the cytokine profile of patients with different malignancies before and after local IL-2 administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The human TH1 / TH2 cytometric bead array (CBA) kit was used to investigate IL-2, IFNgamma, TNFalpha, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 in a control group and in 13 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline serum IL-4 levels in patients were lower than in healthy controls, while the baseline ascitic IL-10 levels in patients was higher than in serum. The IL-2 applications induced a strong serum increase in IL-2 and IL-5 and even more in ascites, while IL-10 increased weakly and mainly locally. One month after the start of therapy, the serum IFNgamma had increased in patients, reaching the level of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After local injection, IL-2 probably leaks into the blood circulation. The higher increases of IL-2, IL-5 and IL-10 in ascites compared to the serum suggests that the injected cytokines and their effects are mainly local. The minor increase of the immunosuppressive IL-10 could explain the therapeutic difference between local and systemic IL-2 therapy since IL-10 levels markedly increase after systemic IL-2 therapy. IL-5 was always increased after IL-2 therapy and, consequently, may be a downstream mediator of antitumour responses.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Gastroenterology, University Hospital "St.Ivan Rilski", #15, Blvd. "Iv.Geshov", Sofia 1431, Bulgaria. raditomova@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Radosveta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tomova
authors.forename: Javor
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pomakov
authors.forename: John J L
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Dimcho
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adjarov
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Popova
authors.forename: Iskra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Altankova
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Den Otter
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krastev
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma