In vitro cytokine expression in in situ-like areas of malignant neoplasia

Objectives oepithelial cells exert important effects regulating the transition of an in situ to an invasive carcinoma. This cell has been associated with a tumour suppressor phenotype due to its ability to inhibit tumour growth as well as its immunomodulatory role in cancer behaviour. er to correlate the cancer cell growth and the role of cytokines in regulating the neoplastic process, we have attempted to simulate an in vitro model of tumorigenesis, which mimics a situation where in situ neoplastic cells of carcinoma are surrounded by benign myoepithelial cells from pleomorphic adenoma. To certify the formation of in situ-like neoplasic areas, the cells were immunostained with vimentin and AE1/AE3, markers for tumoral benign myoepithelial cells and squamous cell carcinoma lineage, respectively. We investigated the correlation of the cancer cell growth with the releasing of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 associated with the immune response. The cytokines levels were evaluated using ELISA. s situ neoplastic areas, IL-6 amounts were higher released when compared with IL-4 and IL-10, in all studied periods. Interestingly, the peak of IL-6 release fits with the predominance of malignant cells in the culture. sions esent results demonstrated that, in this in vitro condition, the myoepithelial cells were not able to suppress the tumour cell proliferation even with high secretion of IL-4 by benign myoepithelial cells which at the beginning is supposed to act as an anti-tumour agent. In addition, these cells favoured the tumour growth by excessive production of IL-6 and IL-10.