thymic-factor--circulating and Uterine-Cervical-Neoplasms

Decreased natural killer (NK) activity as well as interleukin 2 (IL-2) are risk factors for the progression of cervical carcinoma. NK activity and IL-2 may be thymus controlled. Plasma levels of active thymulin, a zinc-dependent thymic hormone (ZnFTS), are reduced in cancer because of the low peripheral zinc bioavailability. Zinc and thymulin are relevant for normal immune functions. Alpha2-macroglobulin is an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) against invasive tumour proliferation. Because alpha2-macroglobulin has a binding affinity (Kd) for zinc that is higher than does thymulin, it may play a key role in immune efficiency in cancer. Plasma samples of 22 patients (age range 35-60 years) with locally advanced squamous cervical carcinoma and with FIGO stage Ib2-IIb were examined. They showed reduced active thymulin, decreased NK activity and IL-2 production, increased soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and augmented alpha2-macroglobulin in the circulation, whereas plasma zinc levels were within the normal range for age. Significant positive correlations were found between zinc or active thymulin and alpha2-macroglobulin (r = 0.75, P < 0.01, r = 0.78, P < 0.01, respectively) in cancer patients. In vitro zinc increases IL-2 production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of cancer patients. These data suggest that an increase in alpha2-macroglobulin, which competes with thymulin for zinc binding, may be involved in causing a thymulin deficit with a consequent decrease of IL-2 and NK cytotoxicity. Thus, physiological zinc treatment in cervical carcinoma maybe restores impaired central and peripheral immune efficiency.

Topics: Adult; alpha-Macroglobulins; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Interleukin-2; Killer Cells, Natural; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Middle Aged; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Thymic Factor, Circulating; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Zinc

The paper discusses results of treatment of advanced (over 100 cm in size) cervical carcinoma. Fifty-eight females of the control group received complex split-course radiotherapy whereas in 38 patients of the study group radiation was supplemented with thymalin immunotherapy at the first and second stages. The results showed the latter therapeutic modality to offer clear advantage over radiotherapy alone, viz. it allowed wider application of radical surgery and assured better results of treatment of patients previously considered incurable.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Staging; Prospective Studies; Radiotherapy; Remission Induction; Thymus Hormones; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The results of a clinical study of a polypeptide preparation of the thymus-thymalin in 50 patients with cervical carcinoma are discussed. Thymalin was found to exert a beneficial effect in various immuno-suppressive states involved in carcinoma of uterine cervix. Since the preparation has a distinct stimulating effect, its administration should be included into different schemes of complex therapy of cervical carcinoma.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Antibody Formation; B-Lymphocytes; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; T-Lymphocytes; Thymus Hormones; Time Factors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms