Systemic immune dysfunction in pancreatic cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the immune status in 32 pancreatic cancer patients (PC) in comparison with healthy controls (HC).


METHODS
Using flow cytometry, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were characterized by the expression of surface markers for T helper cells (CD4), T suppressor cells (CD8), B cells (CD19) and NK cells (CD56). The blastogenic response of PBL was analyzed after stimulation with concavalin A (ConA), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and anti-CD3 antibodies. The serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18, IL-1RA, sIL-2R and TGF-beta were determined by ELISA.


RESULTS
No differences in the distribution of peripheral immunocytes in PC were found, whereas the blastogenic response of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) after stimulation with PHA or anti-CD3 antibodies was significantly decreased in PC. In PC, we found reduced serum levels of IL-2 and significantly elevated levels of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, IL-10, IL-2R, IL-1beta and IL-1RA.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide evidence for a systemic immune dysfunction in pancreatic cancer patients characterized by a shift towards a T helper cell type 2 cytokine profile, a significant elevation of substances related to T cell suppression and a reduced blastogenic response to PHA and anti-CD3 antibodies of PBL.
Poch
Bertram
B
Center for Oncological, Endocrinological and Minimal-access Surgery, Silcherstr. 36, 89231 Neu-Ulm, Germany.
Lotspeich
Errki
E
Ramadani
Marco
M
Gansauge
Susanne
S
Beger
Hans G
HG
Gansauge
Frank
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000097:blood; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D008934:Mitogens; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta