Supernatants of tumours treated with chemotherapy can alter tumour growth and development in vivo.
BACKGROUND
Tumour-derived supernatants are comprised of bioactive substances that have the capacity to transform host systems rendering them more supportive of tumour growth. Certain chemotherapies are able to alter the make-up of these supernatants.


METHODS
We explored the effects that vaccination with supernatants derived from tumours may have on tumour growth in a BALB/c model.


RESULTS
A number of cytokines were detected in the supernatants capable of increasing B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein expression in cancer cells; of note, significantly higher levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were detected in chemotherapy-treated supernatants compared to controls. Vaccinating mice with supernatants from untreated tumours significantly impeded the growth of sub-cutaneous-implanted tumours. However, this anticancer effect was significantly diminished if the supernatants used were from cancer cells treated with gemcitabine.


CONCLUSIONS
The study lends in vivo support to the idea that tumours produce bioactive components that can influence host biology and that certain chemotherapies can negate these.
Department of Oncology, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, U.K. w.liu@sgul.ac.uk.
Wai Man
WM
Liu
Department of Oncology, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, U.K.
Katherine Ann
KA
Scott
Department of Oncology, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, U.K.
Angus George
AG
Dalgleish
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
GM-CSF; Tumour-supernatants; chemotherapy; murine model