title: Role of tumor-derived proinflammatory cytokines GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, and IL-12 in the migration and differentiation of antigen-presenting cells in cervical carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proinflammatory cytokines are important in modifying the activity, differentiation, and migration of antigen-presenting cells and may influence the survival of cancer patients. The study assessed whether GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, and IL-12, produced by cervical cancer cells, are important for the activity, differentiation, and migration of antigen-presenting cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 90 patients with cervical carcinoma the number of monocytes/tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), mature dendritic cells (DC), and Langerhans cells (LHC) was determined using immunohistochemistry. An RNA in situ hybridization technique was used to measure the expression level of GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, IL-12p35, and IL-12p40.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TAM were detected intraepithelial as well as in the stroma of the tumor. LHC were only detected intraepithelial and mature DC only in the tumor stroma. The number of TAM correlated positively with the number of mature DC. The expression levels of GM-CSF and TNF-alpha correlated positively with the number of TAM and DC. TNF-alpha showed a negative correlation with the number of LHC. A significant correlation between the expression of functional IL-12 (IL-12p40) and stromal TAM was found. The expression of GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, and IL-12p40 did not correlate significantly with disease-free survival. However, high IL-12p40 expression was associated with a favorable cumulative overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that GM-CSF as well as TNF-alpha, produced by cervical carcinoma cells, may play a role in the differentiation of monocytes into mature DC. Furthermore, TNF-alpha may influence the migration of LHC from the tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henry J M A A
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zijlmans
authors.forename: Gert Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fleuren
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Baelde
authors.forename: Paul H C
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Eilers
authors.forename: Gemma G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kenter
authors.forename: Arko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorter
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015347:RNA Probes; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D015347:RNA Probes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor