Peritoneal Fluid levels of various Cytokines in Patients with Ovarian Lesions

Chun, Sang Sik; Cho, Young Lae; Koo, Tae Bon; Suh, Jang Soo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Recent studies have shown that multifunctional cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of various ovarian lesions including ovarian cancer and endometriosis. This study was performed to determine the possibility of the clinical usefulness of peritoneal cytokines in patients with various ovarian lesions.
METHODS
Peritoneal fluid was obtained from patients with benign cystic adenoma(n=11), benign cystic teratoma(n=10), endometriosis(n=23), malignant ovarian tumor(n=11), and women without evidence of any pathology(n=7) at the time of laparotomy or operative laparoscopic surgery and were examined for the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed with the one way ANOVA, Scheffe test or Mann-Whitney test.
RESULTS
The mean concentration of IL-6 and IL-10 was significantly higher in peritoneal fluid specimens with ovarian cancer than other benign pathology(p<0.05). Both IL-6 and IL-10 levels in peritoneal fluid specimens with endometriosis tended to be higher than normal, and the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly higher in peritoneal fluid of women with severe endometriosis compaired to women with mild endometriosis (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study supports the concept that regional immunologic dysfunction might be involved in the disease process of various ovarian pathology such as ovarian cancer and endometriosis. A larger study would help in evaluating the potential use of local peritoneal cytokines in differentiating ovarian cancer from other benign pathology, and demonstrating any association between concentrations of cytokines and severity of endometriosis.