ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-tumor effect of monocytes/macrophages against Tca8113 cells and the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in acid microenvironment in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were extracted from healthy person's blood and cultivated to transform into monocytes/macrophages. The monocytes/macrophages were cultured with Tca8113 in acid microenvironment (pH6.6 and pH6.8) and in normal microenvironment (pH7.2). The anti-tumor effect of monocytes/macrophages against Tca8113 cells were examined by MTT assay. The expression of VEGF was detected by enzyme-link immunoassay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The anti-tumor effect of monocytes/macrophages against Tca8113 cells in acid environment was lower than in normal environment (P < 0.05). VEGF excreted by mononuclear/macrophage was significantly higher in acid microenvironment than in normal microenvironment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Due to acid microenvironment inside tumor, the anti-tumor effect of monocytes/macrophages against tumor cell was decreased, but the secretion of VEGF was gradually increased. However, the function of monocytes/macrophages on anti-tumor need more research.</p>