Cytokine profile in lung cancer microenvironment- analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by Luminex assay

The value of immunotherapy in lung cancer has been confirmed. However, there is a need for precise recognition of local immune response before such a treatment. The aim of our study was to analyse a cytokine profile in the lung of lung cancer patients. The soluble factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatans harvested from the lung affected by cancer (A) and from symmetrical lung free of tumor (B) were analyzed by Luminex assay. It was a panel of 27 cytokines with Th1, Th2, Th0 derived interleukins, chemokines, interferon and hematopoietic cytokines. The group of 35 patients with confirmed primary nonsmall cell lung cancer was investigated (n=14- adenocarcinoma, n=13- squamous cell carcinoma, n=1-large cell carcinoma, n=7- not otherwise specified). We found increased concentration of the majority of interleukins Th1 as well Th2 and growth factors and chemokines in the BALF (A) when compared with (B). However, only the differences in the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines showed significance. A significantly higher concentration of: IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-8, GM CSF, IL-12p70 in the BALF (A) when compared with (B) was found (p<0.05). The correlation of the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines was more pronounced in the lung (A) than in the lung (B). Our study confirmed that analysis of BALF may be useful in the evaluation of current status and the character of immune response in lung cancer. The balance of the concentration of cytokines reflects enhance...
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Lung Cancer Source Type: research