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Tumor cell dissemination triggers an intrathecal immune response in neoplastic meningitis
Author(s) -
Weller Michael,
Stevens Andreas,
Sommer Norbert,
Schabet Martin,
Wietholter Horst
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19920315)69:6<1475::aid-cncr2820690627>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - medicine , carcinoembryonic antigen , immune system , melanoma , tumor necrosis factor alpha , cerebrospinal fluid , immunology , antigen , meningeal carcinomatosis , meningitis , oncofetal antigen , cytokine , pathology , cancer , cancer research , immunotherapy , psychiatry , tumor associated antigen
The intrathecal immune response in neoplastic meningitis (NM) was studied by quantitation of immune parameters such as immunoglobulin G (IgG); IgM; interleukins (IL) 1, 2, 4, and 6; soluble IL‐2 receptors (sIL‐2R); interferon gamma (IFNy); tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα); and three tumor markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), α‐fetoprotein (AFP), and fibronectin (FN), in 47 paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from patients with NM from different carcinomas, malignant melanoma, and lymphoma. Elevated IgG and IgM indices, CSF oligoclonal Ig bands, and CSF IL‐6 indicated an intrathecal immune activation in most patients with NM. Results for IL‐1, IL‐2, and 1L‐4 were always negative. sIL‐2R and IFNy were detected occasionally but not associated with specific malignant neoplasms. CSF TNFα was detected only in NM from cases of malignant melanoma. None of the immune parameters proved useful for the differentiation of NM from autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. Immune parameters were not correlated with tumor markers CEA, AFP, or FN. Results for AFP were positive only in a case of glioblastoma. CEA was a useful and specific diagnostic parameter in carcinomatous NM. CSF FN levels frequently were elevated but are not specific for NM. Cancer 1992; 69:1475‐1480.