HEIGHTENED INTERFERON-GAMMA PRODUCTION BY MONONUCLEAR-CELLS FROM BLADDER-CANCER PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (7) , 3140-3143
Abstract
Interferon-.gamma. (IFN-.gamma.) production by peripheral blood leukocytes from bladder cancer patients was compared with that of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia, nontumor-bearing patients with bacterial infections, and normal controls. Leukocyte preparations including mononuclear cells isolated on a Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient (Fraction 2) and glass-nonadherent mononuclear cells (Fraction 3) were stimulated with Protein A from Staphylococcus aureus, and IFN-.gamma. production was monitored 24 h later. The class of interferon produced was identified by antibody neutralization experiments which clearly showed S. aureus Protein A-induced to be IFN-.gamma.. There was significantly heightened IFN-.gamma. production by Fraction 3 cells from bladder cancer patients and patients with bacterial infections. Heightened IFN-.gamma. production by bladder cancer patients was not observed in the Fraction 2 cells. No correlation was observed between IFN-.gamma. production and patients with invasive or noninvasive bladder cancer, but IFN-.gamma. production was lower in patients having Stage C or D tumors than in those having Stage A or B tumors. These results in conjunction with previous reports demonstrating heightened IFN-.gamma. production during periods of antigenic stimulation suggest that bladder tumors may induce a cell-mediated immune response in the host as evidenced by the elevation in IFN-.gamma. production. Macrophages may be important regulators of IFN-.gamma. production in bladder cancer patients.