Predictive Value of Urinary Interleukin-8 Cutoff Point for Recurrences After Transurethral Resection Plus Induction Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Treatment in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Tumors

Background

This study was designed to investigate whether there is a correlation between interleukin (IL)-8 secretion rate and recurrences in induction bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy following transurethral resection (TUR) in cases of primary non-muscle-invasivebladder cancer (NMIBC).

Patients and Methods

A total of 41 patients with NMIBC were randomized to receive a 6-week course with a standard dose of 81 mg intravesical BCG. Voided urine samples were collected immediately before and after (at 2 and 4 hours) BCG instillation. IL-8 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were monitored according to European Association of Urology Guidelines.

Results

Patients were monitored for a mean duration of 21.0 ± 13.86 months. The mean time to recurrence for the 15 patients who had recurrences was 11.2 months. After adjusting for risk factors, the change in IL-8 levels at 2 hours after the first BCG compared with the levels before BCG instillation was found to be significantly predictive of recurrence (P = .047), and the best cutoff point was estimated as 112 pg/mL. The sensitivity of this measure for prediction of recurrences was 53.3%, specificity was 88.5%, positive predictive value was 72.7%, and negative predictive value was 76.7%. Comparison of patients who had values below and above this cutoff point revealed that the recurrence-free survival rate was 76.7% versus 27.3%, and the expected recurrence-free survival time was 34.9 months versus 18.8 months (P = .006).

Conclusion

Besides numerous other prognostic factors that have been suggested so far, a cutoff point of 112 pg/mL for IL-8 levels measured 2 hours after the first BCG instillation appears to be a good predictive factor for successful outcome in BCG treatment following TUR.     

Production of IL-5, a classical T(H)2 cytokine, following bacillus Calmette guerin immunotherapy of bladder cancer

Among the many immunological events associated with successful intravesical bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy of bladder cancer is the induction of a wide range of cytokines including the T helper 2 (T(H)2) designated cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10, but not IL-4, in the urine of the patients. The aim of this work was to determine if this treatment resulted in the production of IL-5, a classical T(H)2 cytokine. Following treatment using ELISA this cytokine was detected in the urine of all patients examined confirming that intravesical BCG therapy does not induce in bladder cancer patients solely a T(H)1 response but rather T(H)1/2 or T(H)0 like response.     

Soluble immunological parameters and early prognosis of renal cell cancer patients

In local or metastatic cancer, a prognostic tumour marker could be a valuable tool in the selection of different treatments. In renal cell cancer (RCC) no such markers have been available. We therefore evaluated the association between several pretreatment serum markers, tumour classification and short term survival in RCC patients. Serum samples were collected before surgery and three months thereafter from 24 RCC patients. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL- 12, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were measured in serum samples using specific commercial enzyme immunoassay kits. Serum IL-6, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 levels before nephrectomy were significantly higher in non-local tumours than in local ones (mean IL-6 53 pg/ml versus 6.3 pg/ml, and sICAM-1 443 ng/ml versus 290 ng/ml, sIL-2R 3779 pg/ml versus 1796 pg/ml). In contrast, IL-12 levels were higher in local tumours (148 versus 102 pg/ml) and the levels increased significantly (P < 0.005) after removal of the primary tumour in patients with local disease. All patients with local tumours had normal IL-6 values, while only one with a non-local tumour had IL-6 levels below 10 pg/ml. In addition, IL-6 and sICAM-1 levels before operation were significantly higher in patients with short (less than one year) survival (p=0.007 to IL-6 and p=0.006 to sICAM-1). In contrast, patients with shorter survival had significantly lower IL-12 (p=0.03) levels. Our findings suggest that RCC induces changes in several immunological parameters. These soluble immunological factors, IL-6, IL-12, sIL-2R and sICAM-1, might have a role as prognostic factors in RCC.     

Circulating interleukin-6 predicts survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by macrophages, T cells, B cells, endothelial cells and tumour cells. Interleukin-6 is able to promote tumour growth by upregulating anti-apoptotic and angiogenic proteins in tumour cells. In murine models it has been demonstrated that antibodies against IL-6 diminish tumour growth. Several reports have highlighted the prognostic importance of IL-6 in e.g., prostate and colon cancer. We addressed prospectively the prognostic significance of serum IL-6 (sIL-6), measured at diagnosis of metastasis, in 96 unselected and consecutive patients with progressive metastatic breast cancer before the initiation of systemic therapy. The median sIL-6 value for the breast cancer population was 6.6 +/- 2.1 pg/ml. Patients with 2 or more metastatic sites had higher sIL-6 values compared to those with only 1 metastatic site (respectively 8.15 +/- 1.7 pg/ml and 3.06 +/- 6.6 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Patients with liver metastasis (8.3 +/- 2.4 pg/ml), with pleural effusions (10.65 +/- 9.9 pg/ml) and with dominant visceral disease (8.15 +/- 3.3 pg/ml) had significantly higher values compared to those without liver metastases (4.5 +/- 3.4 pg/ml; p = 0.001), without pleural effusions (5.45 +/- 1.5 pg/ml; p = 0.0077) and with dominant bone disease (4.5 +/- 1.4 pg/ml; p = 0.007) respectively. No correlation between sIL-6 and age, menopausal status, performance status, tumour grade, body-mass index, histology and hormone receptor status was found. Multivariate analysis showed that high levels of serum IL-6 have independent prognostic value. We conclude that circulating IL-6 is associated with worse survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer and is correlated with the extent of disease.     

弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者外周血白细胞介素6、白细胞介素8和白细胞介素10的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤（DLBCL）患者外周血中白细胞介素6（IL-6）、白细胞介素8（IL-8）和白细胞介素10（IL-10）的表达及其临床意义。方法:回顾性分析2018年3月至2021年3月厦门大学附属第一医院78例初治DLBCL患者的临床资料，选取同期58名健康体检者作为健康对照。采用流式微球捕获芯片技术（CBA）检测受试者外周血中IL-6、IL-8和IL-10表达水平，并分析DLBCL患者这些指标与临床特征、疾病分期和预后的关系。结果:DLBCL组IL-6、IL-8和IL-10表达水平均高于健康对照组[（171.81±70.91）pg/ml比（2.71±0.28）pg/ml，（47.95±13.04）pg/ml比（3.69±0.47）pg/ml，（38.02±10.35）pg/ml比（1.77±0.23）pg/ml]，差异均有统计学意义（ t值分别为2.38、3.39、3.50，均 P<0.05）。DLBCL患者中，骨髓侵犯、国际预后指数（IPI）评分3~5分及临床分期Ⅲ~Ⅳ期患者的IL-6、IL-8和IL-10水平均高于骨髓未侵犯、IPI评分1~2分及临床分期Ⅰ~Ⅱ期患者（均 P<0.05）。DLBCL患者外周血中IL-6与IL-8、IL-6与IL-10、IL-8与IL-10表达水平均相关（ r2值分别为0.93、0.89、0.89，均 P<0.05）。IL-6、IL-8、IL-10均高表达的患者中，临床分期为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、6个疗程后未缓解患者比例均高于IL-6、IL-8、IL-10单项及两项高表达患者，差异均有统计学意义（均 P<0.05）。 结论:DLBCL患者外周血清中IL-6、IL-8和IL-10表达水平具有较高的相关性，三者表达水平升高预示DLBCL患者疾病分期较晚、预后较差。     

Prognostic significance of tumor location in high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

The management of high-grade (HG) non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) continues to be a serious clinical problem. The role of many factors related to efficacy of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), which is the most useful intravesical agent for these tumors, is still unknown. This study investigated the prognostic value of tumor location in high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Seventy-four patients with HG non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, without carcinoma in situ (CIS), were treated by transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Twenty-eight patients received adjuvant BCG therapy after TURBT. The relation between tumor location and the recurrence capacity was estimated using a Cox regression model. Our results suggest that tumor location is an important prognostic factor for BCG-therapy response in patients with high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Tumors in the bladder neck might have a higher risk of recurrence after intravesical immunotherapy. In addition, tumors in the lateral and posterior bladder walls might be at higher risk of recurrence when treated by TURBT alone.     

Preoperative interleukin-6 production by mononuclear blood cells predicts survival after radical surgery for colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the Western world. Staging based on histopathology is currently the most accurate predictor of outcome after surgery. Colorectal cancer is curable if treated at an early stage (stage I-III). However, for tumors in stages II and III there is a great need for tests giving more accurate prognostic information defining the patient population in need of closer follow-up and/or adjuvant therapy. Furthermore, tests that provide prognostic information preoperatively could provide a guide both for preoperative oncologic treatment and the surgical procedure. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated preoperatively, within a week before primary surgery, from 39 patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. The PBMCs were cultured in vitro for 24 hours in the presence of autologous serum and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Staging based on histopathology was performed in all patients. Patients were followed for at least 54 months. RESULTS: A production of >5000 pg/mL of IL-6 identified colorectal cancer patients with a poor prognosis. Eight out of 13 patients with >5000 pg/mL IL-6 died from cancer within the follow-up period, whereas no cancer-related deaths were recorded among 21 patients with 5000 pg/mL IL-6 or less. A multivariate Cox regression analysis, stratified for T- and N-stage, identified IL-6 production as an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 production in vitro by PBMC can predict survival after radical surgery for colorectal cancer.     

Serum interleukin 6 as a prognostic factor in patients with prostate cancer.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prognostic significance of the serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with prostate cancer. Serum IL-6 levels were measured in 74 patients with prostate cancer. The tumor was stage B in 23 patients, stage C in 14 patients, and stage D in 37 patients. Prognostic significance of tumor histology, performance status (PS), bone metastasis, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level, serum lactate dehydrogenase level, serum IL-6 levels, and hemoglobin on disease-specific survival was assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox's proportional hazards model analyses. Serum IL-6 was significantly correlated with the clinical stage of prostate cancer. Univariate analysis of all patients demonstrated that an extent of disease (EOD) on bone scanning > or = 1, IL-6 > or = 7 pg/ml, PS > or = 1, PSA > 100 ng/ml, and ALP > 620 IU/liter were associated with a significantly lower survival rate than their respective counterparts. In multivariate analysis, however, the only two significant prognostic factors were EOD and IL-6. In 51 patients with stage C and stage D prostate cancer, univariate analysis showed that EOD > or = 1, IL-6 > or = 7 pg/ml, PS > or = 1, PSA > 100 ng/ml, LDH > 200 IU/liter, and ALP > 620 IU/liter were significantly related to survival, whereas multivariate analysis again demonstrated that EOD > or = 1 and IL-6 > or = 7 pg/ml were significant prognostic factors. These results indicate that the serum IL-6 level is a significant prognostic factor for prostate cancer as well as EOD.     

初诊弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者外周血细胞因子水平及其临床意义

目的 探讨细胞因子在弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤(DLBCL)患者外周血中的水平及其临床意义.方法 采用免疫荧光法检测2013年4月至2017年1月安庆市立医院38例初诊DLBCL患者及20名健康体检者(对照组)外周血白细胞介素(IL)-1β、IL-2R、IL-6、IL-8、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)及IL-10的表达水平.结果 DLBCL组IL-2R、IL-6、IL-8、TNF及IL-10水平均高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05).DLBCL患者中,临床分期Ⅲ～Ⅳ期组IL-2R及TNF水平为(5985±26)U/ml、(42.2±5.8)pg/ml,高于Ⅰ～Ⅱ期组的(3672±28)U/ml、(30.4±2.6)pg/ml(t值分别为34.861、28.451,P值分别为0.023、0.038);高危组[国际预后指数(IPI)评分4～5分]IL-2R及IL-10水平为(6322±36)U/ml、(77±7)pg/ml,高于低危组(IPI 0～1分)的(2567±32)U/ml、(50±5)pg/ml(t值分别为58.327、24.264,P值分别为0.001、0.041);有B症状组IL-2R、IL-6及IL-10水平为(6234±26)U/ml、(38.1±2.3)pg/ml、(90±10)pg/ml,高于无B症状组的(3588±33)U/ml、(25.3±1.5)pg/ml、(54±5)pg/ml(t值分别为32.263、24.321、36.529,P值分别为0.027、0.043、0.020).结论 DLBCL患者IL-2R、IL-6、IL-8、TNF及IL-10水平均高于健康体检者,并且细胞因子的水平与DLBCL患者临床特征存在一定的相关性.     

液相芯片技术检测胃癌血清细胞因子的临床意义

目的 探讨炎性相关细胞因子在胃癌患者血清中的表达水平及各种细胞因子之间的相关性,并分析各细胞因子与胃癌不同临床特征之间的关系。方法 运用高通量液相芯片技术对46例胃癌术前患者（胃癌组） 和 30 例健康者（对照组）血清中细胞因子IL-1β、IL-2、IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-7、IL-8、IL-10、IL-12、IL-13、IL-17A、IL-21、IL-23、TNF-α、IFN-γ、GM-CSF表达水平进行同时检测。结果 血清中IL-8、IL-17A、IL-7、TNF-α表达水平胃癌组较健康对照组显著升高：4.50(10.38) pg/ml vs. 2.06(3.17) pg/ml, P=0.002、 0.83(2.01) pg/ml vs. 0.21(0.85) pg/ml, P=0.013、3.46(1.90) pg/ml vs. 2.11(1.48) pg/ml, P=0.001、1.21(1.13) pg/ml vs. 0.79(0.37) pg/ml, P<0.001;各细胞因子在胃癌组中有淋巴结转移组与无淋巴结转移组比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;各细胞因子间具有相关性。结论 血清中高水平的IL-7、IL-8、IL-17A、TNF-α可能参与胃癌的发生及发展,IL-8、IL-17A、TNF-α高表达可能是预后不良的指标。     

NK cells are essential for effective BCG immunotherapy

Adjuvant intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy is a well-established and successful adjuvant immunotherapy in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer. Although the function of natural killer (NK) cells in other immunotherapeutic regimens (e.g., lymphokine-activated killer [LAK] cell or interleukin-2 [IL-2] therapy) has been established, the contribution of NK cells to effective BCG immunotherapy is not clear. We used a human in vitro system to analyze the role of NK cells in BCG-induced cellular cytotoxicity. After stimulation of mononuclear cells with BCG for 7 days, these BCG-activated killer (BAK) cells displayed substantial cytotoxicity against bladder tumor cells. Magnetic depletion experiments and fluorescence activated cell sorting revealed that NK cells were the major effector cell population. To address NK cell function in vivo, we studied a syngeneic orthotopic murine bladder cancer model and compared BCG immunotherapy in C57BL/6 wild-type mice, NK-deficient beige mice and mice treated with anti-NK1.1 monoclonal antibody. Four weekly instillations of viable BCG significantly prolonged survival in wild-type mice compared with control mice treated with solvent alone. In contrast, BCG therapy was completely ineffective in NK-deficient beige mice and in mice treated with anti-NK1.1 monoclonal antibody. These findings suggest a key role for NK cells during BCG immunotherapy.     

Immunotherapy for urothelial carcinoma: Metastatic disease and beyond

For advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinomas (UCs), platinum (preferably cisplatin)‐based chemotherapy has been the standard treatment for many years. However, many patients are ineligible for cisplatin‐based chemotherapy because of poor performance status and/or other age‐related conditions. At the other end of the spectrum, patients with localized non‐muscle–invasive bladder cancer who are unresponsive to intravesical Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) treatment often face radical cystectomy as the only option. In recent years, the application of immunotherapy in the form of immune‐checkpoint inhibitors has provided viable alternatives in the second‐line postplatinum and first‐line cisplatin‐ineligible settings. Recent and ongoing clinical trials are also assessing the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy for neoadjuvant and adjuvant uses before/after cystectomy, for BCG‐unresponsive cases, and for combination treatments that include the newer indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase‐1 inhibitors and/or BCG. This review summarizes recent developments in immunotherapy for UCs.     

Trends of IL-6 and IL-8 levels in patients with recurrent breast cancer: preliminary report

BACKGROUND: We reported that IL-6 and IL-8 levels at the beginning of treatment are predictive indicators of response to therapy and prognosis of patients with recurrent breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the trend of IL-6 and IL-8 levels in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent breast cancer. METHODS: Cytokine level trends in 12 patients heavily pretreated with anthracyclines were studied. Patients were divided into two groups according to the objective response. There were 5 partial response (PR)/no change (NC), and 7 progressive disease (PD) patients. Blood was taken every four weeks. IL-6 was measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. IL-8 was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The pretreatment level of IL-6 in the PR/NC group (11.0+/-2.1 pg/ml) was significantly lower than that (15.3+/-2.7 pg/ml) in the PD group. However, there was no difference in IL-8 level between the PR/NC group (12.5+/-5.5 pg/ml) and the PD group (11.5+/-1.1 pg/ml). IL-6 levels in the PR/NC group were maintained within normal levels or decreased to within normal levels after treatment, while levels of IL-6 in the PD group gradually increased until the time of patient death. A decrease in IL-8 level after treatment was observed in only one patient in the PR/NC group. Mild increase of IL-8 levels was observed in the PD group. CONCLUSION: Continuous elevation of IL-6 levels indicates poor prognosis in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent breast cancer. Combination therapy including agents that reduce IL-6 levels will be a new strategy for aggressively treating recurrent breast cancer.     

Comparison of Cervical Levels of Interleukins-6 and -8 in Patients with and without Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Introduction: Interleukins-6 and -8 are two pro-inflammatory cytokines increasing in serum and local levels under malignant conditions. There are limited evidences on the association between cervical level of these two factors and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). So, this study aimed to explore the association between cervical levels of IL-6 and IL-8 with cervical premalignant lesions. Methods: The present case-control study was conducted on married women undergone Pap smear for routine screening in two groups as the group with CIN (n=100) and the healthy control group (n=100). Cervical secretions were collected using sterile swab and the levels of IL-8 and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The mean cervical IL-6 level was 568.66±594.62 pg/ml in the patients with CIN and 212.7±213.9 pg/ml in the controls (P <0.001). The cervical IL-8 levels in the case and control groups were measured to be 1320.43±876.5 pg/ml and 1053.59±747.64 pg/ml, respectively (p=0.02). By modifying the confounding size effect of the age and marital duration, it was determined that cervical levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were both associated with CIN. Conclusion: Our results showed that the cervical levels of IL-6 and IL-8 are associated with CIN independent of age and marital dura     

Circulating levels of thrombopoietic and inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome

BACKGROUND: The regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis appears to be under the control of an array of hematopoietic growth factors. The regulatory mechanism of endogenous cytokines in circulating platelet counts of thrombocytopenic patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is still not clear. METHODS: We measured the serum levels of both thrombopoietic and inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples collected from 52 patients with either AML or MDS along with 35 normal control samples. The levels of thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin (IL)-11, IL-6, IL-8 and stem cell factor (SCF) were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Platelet counts in the AML/MDS patients during initial diagnosis, chemotherapy and complete remission were 71.2 +/- 11.6, 47.2 +/- 6.1 and 181.4 +/- 26.3 x10(9)/l, respectively. The median value of TPO in AML/MDS patients during diagnosis was 150.6 pg/ml and increased significantly during chemotherapy (median: 828 pg/ml; p < 0.05) but then decreased following complete remission (median: 221.4 pg/ml). However, these levels were all significantly higher in patients than in normal subjects (p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05; respectively), and no significant change was noted in the levels of IL-11 and SCF during treatment of patients or in normal controls. The level of IL-6 was not detectable in normal serum samples but was markedly increased in the AML/MDS patients (median level during diagnosis: 6.7 pg/ml; chemotherapy: 25 pg/ml; complete remission: 7 pg/ml). The level of IL-8 in patients with AML and MDS was markedly elevated during diagnosis (median: 27.5 pg/ml; range: 0-1,587 pg/ml), but decreased to the level of the normal controls when patients were under chemotherapy or in complete remission. CONCLUSIONS: The endogenous levels of TPO, IL-6 and IL-8 are elevated in the thrombocytopenic patients with AML and MDS. Our results are consistent with previous mechanistic studies and suggest that TPO and IL-6 may be active mediators of platelet production.     

1 alpha, 25-dihydroxylvitamin D3 promotes Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy of bladder cancer

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a vaccine against tuberculosis(TB), has been used and proven to be one of the most effective treatments for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (BCa). However, the mechanisms of BCG action have not been completely understood, thereby limiting the improvement of BCG therapy. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with a high risk of TB infection, and the beneficial effect of UV exposure in TB patients was proven to be mediated via activation of vitamin D signals of innate immune cells. Thus, vitamin D signals might be involved in mediating BCG immunotherapy. To test this hypothesis, we examined the impact of 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-VD) on BCG-induced response in BCa cells and macrophage cells. Our data revealed that 1,25-VD promotes BCG-induced interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion by BCa cells, consequently inducing the migration of macrophage, THP-1. This THP-1 cell migration promoted by 1,25-VD can be blocked by IL-8 neutralized antibody. Furthermore, 1,25-VD increased BCG-induced expression of macrophage markers in THP-1 cell, and enhanced the BCG-induced THP-1 cytotoxicity against low-grade BCa cells. Importantly, a pre-clinical trial using the N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN)-induced BCa mouse model revealed that intravesical co-treatment of 1,25-VD with BCG can prolong mice survival. These data demonstrate a novel mechanism by which 1,25-VD promotes BCG-mediated anti-BCa pathways and provides a platform for improving BCG efficacy with combination of 1,25-VD.     

Flavopiridol-related proinflammatory syndrome is associated with induction of interleukin-6.

BACKGROUND: Flavopiridol is a flavonoid with antiproliferative effects mediated, in part, by inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases. Clinical manifestations in a previous Phase I trial in patients with refractory malignancies treated with a 72-h flavopiridol infusion included a proinflammatory syndrome consisting of fever, fatigue, and "local" tumor pain with concomitant alterations in plasma acute-phase reactant proteins. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether the proinflammatory syndrome observed in this trial was associated with modulation of plasma cytokines. METHODS: Patients receiving flavopiridol (n = 76) had serial plasma samples drawn preinfusion and during the infusion for evaluation of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, basic-fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels by standard ELISA assays. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to test the significance of the difference between the baseline (time 0) plasma cytokine levels compared with the values of each subsequent data collection time points (8, 24, 48, and 72 h). RESULTS: There was a significant and sustained increase in plasma IL-6 levels at all time points when compared with baseline values. Paired values were used in the statistical analysis. Median plasma (interquartile range) values of IL-6 were elevated from 15.5 (9-52) pg/ml at baseline to 23 (4-48) pg/ml (P < 0.01) at 8 h; from 15 (2-48) pg/ml at baseline to 46 (21-105) pg/ml (P < 0.001) at 24 h; from 16 (9-52) pg/ml at baseline to 61 (32-170) pg/ml (P < 0.001) at 48 h; and from 15.5 (6-48) pg/ml to 68 (40-200) pg/ml (P < 0.001) at 72 h. Significance was maintained even when adjusted for multiple comparisons. The relative increase in IL-6 concentration was dose-dependent. Moreover, IL-6 elevation had a direct correlation with flavopiridol peak plasma concentration, flavopiridol area under the curve, and plasma C-Reactive protein levels. A significant decrease in plasma granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor occurred at the 8-h sampling point: 50 pg/ml (interquartile range 10-205 pg/ml, P < 0.01) when compared with baseline plasma levels and 71 pg/ml (interquartile range 5-152 pg/ml, P < 0.01). No changes in the other pro or anti-inflammatory cytokines were observed. Immunohistochemistry studies in bone marrow aspirates from a prospective group of patients in this trial demonstrated approximately 4-fold induction of IL-6 (compared with baseline), mostly in non-T cells. CONCLUSION: Biochemical analysis of plasma in patients undergoing infusional flavopiridol found a significant dose-dependent induction of IL-6. IL-6 elevation could be a marker for the process leading to the appearance of the proinflammatory syndrome observed in patients treated with infusional flavopiridol. The mechanism(s) underlying IL-6 induction and its significance are still unknown but may influence strategies to modulate flavopiridol's clinical effects.     

Effect of human leukocyte antigen class I expression of tumor cells on outcome of intravesical instillation of bacillus calmette-guerin immunotherapy for bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Various immune systems play important roles in the clinical efficacy of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation for bladder cancer. However, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on tumor cells and various immune system cells infiltrating to/around the tumor have not been evaluated, although many prognostic factors, including clinical, pathologic, and molecular ones, have been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine immunologic prognostic factors of BCG immunotherapy for bladder cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Immunohistochemical staining for HLA class I, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD68, TIA-1, S-100, and FOXP3 was carried out on specimens from 30 patients who underwent BCG immunotherapy from whom both pretreatment and posttreatment specimens were obtained. We did univariate and multivariate analyses of factors affecting recurrence-free survival. The positive, weakly positive, and negative groups of cells that infiltrated to/around the tumor were compared with recurrence-free survival using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. RESULTS: HLA class I was a significant prognostic factor both in univariate and multivariate analyses. The 5-year recurrence-free survivals of the patients with HLA class I-positive tumors and those with HLA class I-negative tumors were 55.7% and 19.1%, respectively (P = 0.019). There was a significant association between infiltration of CD8, CD20, and CD68-positive cells after BCG therapy and therapeutic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that expression of HLA class I molecules on tumor cells contributes significantly to the therapeutic effect of BCG immunotherapy for bladder cancer. It is suggested that CTLs may be one of main effectors in this therapy.     

Cytokine responses to intraventricular injection of interleukin 2 into patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis: rapid induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6, gamma-interferon, and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (Mr 55,000 protein).

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a potent immunostimulant that causes the release of secondary cytokines and the production of lymphokine-activated killer cells. We investigated the cellular and cytokine responses to injection of recombinant human IL-2 into the human cerebrospinal fluid of 11 patients with metastatic tumors involving the spinal or cerebral leptomeninges. After initial intraventricular IL-2 administration (1.25 x 10(5) to 2 x 10(6) Cetus units/injection), cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected at intervals from 0 to 24 h. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results indicated that IL-2 levels gradually decreased during the first 24 h, with an average t1/2 between 4 and 8 h. Induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6, gamma-interferon, and interleukin 2 receptor (p55) was also assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 levels peaked at 2 to 4 h and 4 to 6 h, with concentrations between 71 to 1,714 pg/ml and 942 to 10,500 pg/ml, respectively. Interleukin 1 beta, gamma-interferon, and soluble IL-2 receptor peaked later, during 6 to 12 h; the levels achieved were 234 pg/ml, 25 NIH units/ml, and 207 units/ml, respectively. All cytokine concentrations returned to near baseline between 12 and 24 h; however, the soluble IL-2 receptor levels remained elevated. Additional observations included a rapid influx of neutrophilic leukocytes, followed by a prolonged presence of lymphocytes. These data indicate a broad and complex potential of the immune response in the central nervous system, as well as further define the cytokine cascade in response to IL-2 alone.     

结直肠癌患者术前检测血清血管内皮生长因子白细胞介素6及C反应蛋白的临床意义

目的 探讨结直肠癌患者术前血清血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)和C反应蛋白(CRP)水平与临床病理的关系及其对预后的临床意义.方法 采用酶联免疫吸附法检测79例结直肠癌患者血清VEGF和IL-6,采用免疫比浊法检测血清CRP,比较结直肠癌患者与健康对照者的血清VEGF、IL-6和CRP水平.采用Kaplan-Meier法分析结直肠癌患者5年生存率,采用Log rank 单因素分析预后不良因素.结果 结直肠癌组血清VEGF、IL-6和CRp分别为(591±312)pg/ml、(13.2±3.7)pg/ml和(1.14±0.87)mg/dl,健康对照组分别为(321±210)pg/ml、(5.4±2.0)pg/ml和(0.39±0.35)mg/dl,其中VEGF和CRP间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.001,P=0.002).男性患者和女性患者的VEGF水平分别为(638±387)pg/ml和(552±271)pg/ml,差异有统计学意义(P=0.042);肿瘤＜5 cm和肿瘤≥5 cm患者的VEGF表达分别为(538±275)pg/ml和(647±331)pg/ml,差异有统计学意义(P=0.009).男性患者和女性患者的IL-6表达分别为(11.7±3.2)pg/ml和(15.2±4.0)pg/ml,差异有统计学意义(P=0.011).VEGF＜591 pg/ml和≥591 pg/ml患者的5年生存率分别为86.8%(33/38)和73.2%(30/41),IL-6＜13.2 pg/ml和≥13.2 pg/ml患者的5年生存率分别为82.9%(34/41)和76.3%(29/38),CRP＜1.14 mg/dl和≥1.14 mg/dl的5年生存率分别为81.4%(35/43)和77.8%(28/36).Log rank单因素分析显示,VEGF水平是影响结直肠癌预后的相关因素(P＜0.05).Logistic回归分析显示,肿瘤大小和VEGF水平为结直肠癌患者预后的危险因素(P=0.032,OR=0.985;P=0.011,OR=0.976).结论 血清VEGF和IL-6表达具有性别差异,血清VEGF检测可作为结直肠癌患者的临床诊断标志之一,对患者的预后具有重要的临床意义.