Analysis of the involvement of cytokines in allergy and breast cancer association.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The existence of a correlation between allergy disorders and cancer diseases has been confirmed by several epidemiological studies. Although the molecular mechanism involved in this phenomenon remains unknown, there are data indicating that certain cytokines, engaged in allergic processes, have antineoplastic activities. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between advanced breast cancer and allergic state on the molecular level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We determined and compared the mRNA and protein expression of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-4, IL-6, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), cytokines known for antitumor properties, in the blood of advanced breast cancer patients and individuals with allergic diseases related to type 2 response. In addition, we performed an in vitro assay of reactivity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells after exogenous antigen stimulation. As a preliminary to molecular analysis we conducted a questionnaire study concerning the incidence of allergy among breast cancer patients and healthy subjects without malignancy. RESULTS: The results of the survey study revealed a negative relation between breast cancer and allergy prevalence. Subsequent molecular analysis, however, did not show statistically significant differences in cytokines mRNA and protein expression levels between allergic patients and those with malignancy. The in vitro reactivity test also did not reveal marked differences between IL-1ß, IL-4 and IL-6 production after PBMC triggering with exogenous antigen. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the studied cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-γ) are not engaged in breast cancer-allergy negative relation.

The use of hyaluronic acid hydrogel as a tumour bed marker in breast-conserving therapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate usefulness of hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel as a tumour bed marker in breast conserving therapy (BCT). To analyze inter- (Inter-OV) and intraobserver (Intra-OV) variability of contouring boost target volume (CTVboost) in external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients in the HA group and 30 patients in the control group with an early stage breast cancer were included in the study. During the surgery 1-3 ml of HA hydrogel was injected into breast to mark the tumour bed for every patient in the HA group. Moreover, surgical clips were placed underneath the lumpectomy cavity. Patients in the control group were marked only by metal markers. Three radiation oncologists delineated CTVboost twice for every patient. Three parameters were calculated to quantify contouring variability: coefficient of variation for volumes (COVV), center of mass displacement (CoMd) and conformity index (CI). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between mean values of COVV for HA and control group, neither for Intra-OV (0.14 vs 0.13) nor Inter-OV (0.19 vs 0.18) calculations. The mean CoMd were 6.1 mm and 9.1 mm for Inter-OV calculations and 3.9 mm and 6.4 mm for Intra-OV in the HA and the control group respectively. The mean CI for Intra-OV improved from 0.61 to 0.65 and from 0.47 to 0.56 for Inter-OV in the control and HA group respectively. CONCLUSION: HA hydrogel used as a tumour bed marker improves tumour bed visibility and reduces inter- and intraobserver variability of EBRT boost target volume delineations.