Interleukin 2 production in lymphocyte cultures: a rapid test for cancer-associated immunodeficiency in malignant cervical neoplasia

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 205 - 210
• Main Authors: Radhakrishna Pillai, M., Balaram, P., Bindu, S., Hareendran, N.K., Padmanabhan, T.K., Nair, M.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.10.1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; cellular immunity; cervix cancer; Female; Female genital diseases; Follow-Up Studies; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; immunodeficieny; Immunologic Techniques; interleukin-2; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes - immunology; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - immunology; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Tumors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - immunology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - radiotherapy; cervix cancer; interleukin-2; immunodeficieny; cellular immunity; Human; Cell culture; Immunopathology; Prognosis; Cytokine; Biosynthesis; Cellular immunity; Uterine cervix; Malignant tumor; Immune deficiency; In vitro; Genital diseases; Concomitant disease; Interleukin 2; Diagnosis; Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3835(89)90092-X

Peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with malignant cervical neoplasia were studied for their capacity to produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) upon in vitro mitogen stimulation. Patients with early disease (Stage I IIA ) showed levels comparable to normal controls but those with advanced disease showed reduced levels, the reduction increasing with tumour load. These findings excellently correlated with our previous observations on a depressed cellular immunity in these patients. On follow up of the patients it was noticed that those who developed recurrent disease showed sustained lower levels of IL-2 production compared to those who remained disease free. These results stress the importance of a deranged immune system in these patients and also shows the clinical and prognostic value of such an assay.