Stimulated monocyte IL-6 secretion predicts survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed in order to determine whether monocyte in vitro function is associated with presence, stage and prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) disease. METHODS: Prospective study describing outcome, after at least five years observation, of patients treated for HNSCC disease in relation to their monocyte function. Sixty-five patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC and eighteen control patients were studied. Monocyte responsiveness was assessed by measuring levels of monocyte in vitro interleukin (IL)-6 and monocyte chemotactic peptide (MCP)-1 secretion after 24 hours of endotoxin stimulation in cultures supplied either with 20% autologous serum (AS) or serum free medium (SFM). Survival, and if relevant, cause of death, was determined at least 5 years following primary diagnosis. RESULTS: All patients, as a group, had higher in vitro monocyte responsiveness in terms of IL-6 (AS) (t = 2.03; p < 0.05) and MCP-1 (SFM) (t = 2.49; p < 0.05) compared to controls. Increased in vitro monocyte IL-6 endotoxin responsiveness under the SFM condition was associated with decreased survival rate (Hazard ratio (HR) = 2.27; Confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-4.88; p < 0.05). The predictive value of monocyte responsiveness, as measured by IL-6, was also retained when adjusted for age, gender and disease stage of patients (HR = 2.67; CI = 1.03-6.92; p < 0.05). With respect to MCP-1, low endotoxin-stimulated responsiveness (AS), analysed by Kaplan-Meier method, predicted decreased survival (chi = 4.0; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In HNSCC patients, changed monocyte in vitro response to endotoxin, as measured by increased IL-6 (SFM) and decreased MCP-1 (AS) responsiveness, are negative prognostic factors.

Time patterns of changes in biomarkers, symptoms and histopathology during pelvic radiotherapy.

Acute radiation proctitis was evaluated before, during and after radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer. The main aims of the study were to examine changes related to the increasing radiation dose, and identify surrogate markers of gastrointestinal (GI) reaction to radiation. Twenty consecutive prostate cancer patients scheduled for 7 weeks of conformal RT were prospectively included in a longitudinal study assessing symptoms, inflammation in rectal mucosa biopsies, and blood and stool samples at four time points (before RT and 2, 6 and 11 weeks after start of RT). Blood samples were examined for acute phase response-related markers, fatty acids (FAs), vitamin E and leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)). Lactoferrin, calprotectin and S100A12 were measured in stool samples and FAs in biopsies from rectal mucosa. The increase in histopathological inflammation reached a maximum 2 weeks after start of RT. Symptoms of GI toxicity increased with higher radiation dose and had not returned to pre-treatment level 4 weeks after RT. Lactoferrin concentrations in stool increased significantly at week 6. Significant decreases of vitamin E, leukocyte count, hemoglobin and some groups of FAs were discovered, while a few FAs increased significantly during the study period. Time courses vary between the selected indicators of acute radiation proctitis. The biopsy grading of inflammatory changes were most intense 2 weeks into the treatment period while symptoms continued to increase until week 6. Lactoferrin in stool samples could be a non-invasive marker of GI inflammation during RT. A transient decrease in vitamin E and some FAs during RT warrants further studies.

Presence of activated T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients predicts impaired prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a high level of peripheral blood (PB) T-lymphocyte activation in vivo predicts impaired prognosis with and without adjustment for TNM stage in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). OBJECTIVE: To determine if PB T-lymphocyte activation in vivo is associated with the presence of, stage of and prognosis of HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC and 15 control patients were studied. PB T-lymphocyte activation was assessed by measuring by flow cytometry the percentage of PB T lymphocytes (CD3 + ) showing the early activation-related cell surface epitopes CD69+ or CD71+ (transferrin receptor) or the late activation epitopes CD25+ (IL-2 receptor) or HLA-DR+. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in expression of T-lymphocyte activation markers between HNSCC patients and control patients, or any difference dependent on TNMG stage. In HNSCC patients a high percentage of CD71+ T lymphocytes predicted worse prognosis with a relative risk (RR) of 2.38 (confidence interval (CI): 1.04-5.47). A high mean value of the early (CD69 + /CD71 + ) (RR 2.37; CI: 1.06-5.29) or late (CD25 + /HLA-DR + ) (RR 3.31; CI: 1.39-7.88) activation markers also predicted worse prognosis. Following adjustment for TNM stage, high mean value of the early activation epitopes CD71+ (RR 2.89; CI: 1.22-6.85), the mean value of CD69 + /CD71+ (RR 2.58; CI: 1.12-5.91) and CD25 + /HLA-DR+ (RR 2.75; CI: 1.14-6.62) predicted worse prognosis.

[Fish--more than just omega 3]. / Fisk--ikke bare omega-3.

In the Norwegian governmental guidelines for food and nutrition, an increased intake of fish and other seafood is particularly recommended. Fish is a good source of many important nutrients, such as proteins, very long-chain omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium and iodine. The beneficial effect on health by including fish has been documented in several studies. Increasing interest in the health gains obtained by regular fish intake has put emphasis on the need for documentation of both nutrients and contaminants in fish and seafood, with a balanced risk assessment. In this paper, some of the positive health effects of fish in the diet are elucidated.