Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) producing phaeochromocytoma: direct IL‐6 suppression by non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 405 - 410
• Main Authors: Shimizu, Chikara, Kubo, Mitsumasa, Takano, Kazuhiko, Takano, Akiko, Kijima, Hiromichi, Saji, Hiroshi, Katsuyama, Itaru, Sasano, Hironobu, Koike, Takao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.03.2001; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - drug therapy; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - immunology; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - surgery; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; Depression, Chemical; Endocrinopathies; Female; General aspects. Associated endocrine diseases. Endocrine paraneoplasic syndromes; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Interleukin-6 - analysis; Interleukin-6 - blood; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Medical sciences; Naproxen - pharmacology; Naproxen - therapeutic use; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Neoplasm Proteins - blood; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Pheochromocytoma - drug therapy; Pheochromocytoma - immunology; Pheochromocytoma - surgery; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Endocrinopathy; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Pheochromocytoma; Treatment efficiency; Cytokine; Fever; Blood plasma; Secretory tumor; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Case study; Interleukin 6; Pathology; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Naproxen; Adult; Arylpropionic acid derivatives; Female
• ISSN: 0300-0664; 1365-2265
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.2001.01082.x

A 35‐year‐old Japanese woman presented with a phaeochromocytoma and demonstrated marked inflammatory reactions and pyrexia as a result of excessive production of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) by the tumour. Serum IL‐6 level was 262 ng/l (normal; < 4·0 ng/l). Fever and inflammatory markers were largely overcome by the administration of the nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, naproxen, and all symptoms disappeared soon after the tumour was excised. Immunohistochemical study revealed positive staining using an antihuman IL‐6 antibody and Northern analysis showed increased IL‐6 mRNA levels in the tumour. Cultured tumour cells showed IL‐6 protein synthesis, and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and indomethacin directly inhibited IL‐6 release. These results indicate that the effects of naproxen in vivo were due, at least in part, to direct suppression of IL‐6 secretion from the tumour.