The effect of canceroembryonic antigen on cytokine production by immunocompetent blood cells in patients with breast cancer

Aim . Investigation of the influence of canceroembryonic antigen (CEA) on the immune cells in patients with breast tumors. Materials and methods . Peripheral blood of 67 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (n = 44), fibroadenoma (n = 12) and breast pre-cancer (n = 11). In the supernatants of the blood cells cytokine production induced by CEA was determined by ELISA. Results. It was found that CEA stimulated production of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, TNFα, G-CSF, GM-CSF and the protein MCP-1 by blood immune cells in patients with fibroadenoma compared with groups of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma and precancerous lesions. Stimulation index of CEA on cytokine production by immunocompetent cells in patients in these groups was lower than in groups of patients with fibroadenoma due to initially high levels of spontaneous cytokine production. Results. In patients with fibroadenoma CEA was found to stimulate the production of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, TNFa, G-CSF, GM-CSF and MCP-1 compared with groups of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma and precancerous conditions. Indexes of the influence of CEA on cytokine production by immunocompetent cells in these groups was lower than in the fibroadenoma due to initially high spontaneous production of cytokines. Conclusion. Evident spontaneous cytokine-producing function of immunocompetent blood cells was revealed in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma and precancerous conditions compared to patients with fibroadenoma. The differences between the indices of CEA influence on cytokine production in patients with malignant, benign and precancerous conditions can serve as a basis for the development of methods of differential diagnosis of breast tumors.