TY - JOUR
T1 - Advanced colorectal cancer is associated with impaired interleukin 12 and enhanced interleukin 10 production
AU - O'Hara, Richard J.
AU - Greenman, John
AU - MacDonald, Alistair W.
AU - Gaskell, Kay M.
AU - Topping, Katherine P.
AU - Duthie, Graeme S.
AU - Kerin, Michael J.
AU - Lee, Peter W.R.
AU - Monson, John R.T.
PY - 1998/8
Y1 - 1998/8
N2 - Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine that has been demonstrated to have a major role in stimulating a cell-mediated antitumor response. IL-10, a product of T helper 2 lymphocytes, is its most potent inhibitor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with colorectal cancer had an imbalance in production of IL-12 and IL-10 preoperatively, and whether this was associated with advanced disease at surgery. Blood was obtained before surgery from 60 patients with colorectal cancer and from 30 controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan's strain 1 in vitro for 24 h to assess IL-12 expression after stimulation, and serum was used for IL-10 measurement. IL-12 and IL-10 levels were assessed by ELISA. A single pathologist staged the tumors according to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) and Dukes' classifications. Patients with colorectal cancer had significantly lower levels of IL-12 (P < 0.001) and higher levels of IL-10 (P = 0.004) compared to controls. In addition, lower levels of IL-12 were detected in those patients who were node positive (P < 0.05), had Dukes' C lesions (P ≤ 0.001), and T3 or T4 lesions (P < 0.033) when compared to controls. Patients with Dukes' B and C lesions (P < 0.01) and T3 and T4 lesions (P < 0.05) also had higher levels of IL-10 compared to controls. This study is the first to demonstrate that patients with colorectal cancer have decreased IL- 12 production and increased serum IL-10. This suggests an impaired T helper 1 cell-mediated antitumor response and provides some justification for exogenous IL-12 therapy or anti-IL-10 therapy in these patients.
AB - Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine that has been demonstrated to have a major role in stimulating a cell-mediated antitumor response. IL-10, a product of T helper 2 lymphocytes, is its most potent inhibitor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with colorectal cancer had an imbalance in production of IL-12 and IL-10 preoperatively, and whether this was associated with advanced disease at surgery. Blood was obtained before surgery from 60 patients with colorectal cancer and from 30 controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan's strain 1 in vitro for 24 h to assess IL-12 expression after stimulation, and serum was used for IL-10 measurement. IL-12 and IL-10 levels were assessed by ELISA. A single pathologist staged the tumors according to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) and Dukes' classifications. Patients with colorectal cancer had significantly lower levels of IL-12 (P < 0.001) and higher levels of IL-10 (P = 0.004) compared to controls. In addition, lower levels of IL-12 were detected in those patients who were node positive (P < 0.05), had Dukes' C lesions (P ≤ 0.001), and T3 or T4 lesions (P < 0.033) when compared to controls. Patients with Dukes' B and C lesions (P < 0.01) and T3 and T4 lesions (P < 0.05) also had higher levels of IL-10 compared to controls. This study is the first to demonstrate that patients with colorectal cancer have decreased IL- 12 production and increased serum IL-10. This suggests an impaired T helper 1 cell-mediated antitumor response and provides some justification for exogenous IL-12 therapy or anti-IL-10 therapy in these patients.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031872995&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9717823
AN - SCOPUS:0031872995
SN - 1078-0432
VL - 4
SP - 1943
EP - 1948
JO - Clinical Cancer Research
JF - Clinical Cancer Research
IS - 8
ER -
