title: Mechanisms affecting neutrophil migration capacity in breast cancer patients before and after chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanisms affecting neutrophil migration capacity in breast cancer patients before and after chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral venous blood was collected at the time of diagnosis and immediately prior to the 4th cycle of an anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen for patients diagnosed with different stages of breast cancer (n = 30), for experimental assays. Blood samples were also collected from a healthy control group (n = 17).
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-8 serum concentrations were higher in the patient group than in the control group (p = 0.02), and chemotherapy did not further affect this increase. Levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 did not differ between controls and patients, or in relation to chemotherapy. Serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites were elevated following chemotherapy compared to levels detected prior to treatment (p = 0.01). When the supernatants of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mononuclear cells and neutrophils obtained from the patients were assayed for levels of nitrite, these levels were significantly higher and unchanged, respectively, compared with controls. Expression levels of the chemokine receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2, were significantly reduced in patients compared to controls, and chemotherapy did not further affect these differences. Furthermore, filamentous actin content for IL-8-activated neutrophils was reduced with chemotherapy (median 8.85; range 3.38-13.43) compared to the content detected prior to treatment (median 9.23; range 2.86-22.16) (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated systemic levels of IL-8 and NO, desensitization to CXCR activation, and reduction in actin polymerization may affect neutrophil motility in patients before and after chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, m.angelc@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Maria Angélica Oliveira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Fabrício O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alves-Filho
authors.forename: Fernando Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Eddie Fernando C
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Murta
authors.forename: Beatriz M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Tavares-Murta
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D007960:Leukocyte Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D054387:Receptors, CXCR / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D016207:Cytokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D054387:Receptors, CXCR; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015251:Epirubicin; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil