Resection of pancreatic cancer normalizes the preoperative increase of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene expression

Background: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) appears to play a role in the cachexia and diabetes seen in patients with cancers. However, increased TNF-alpha is seen in some, but not all, of the cancer patients. Methods: The mRNA transcripts of TNF-alpha and its receptors (TNF-RI and TNFRII) were quantified in blood cells of pancreatic cancer patients, using competitive quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerise chain reaction. Plasma TNF-alpha was also quantified in these patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Control blood came from healthy subjects. Results: The TNF-alpha mRNA transcripts (per microgram of total RNA) were increased in pancreatic cancer patients (6.8 +/- 2.1 x 10(6), n = 10), compared to control (1.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(6), n = 9, p < 0.05). After the tumour was removed, the TNF-alpha mRNA transcripts were reduced to a level (2.1 +/- 0.8 x 10(6)) similar to the control. In the cancer patients, no significant changes were found in TNF-RI and TNF-RII gene transcription, compared to the controls. Conclusion: The expression of the TNF-alpha gene is upregulated in patients with pancreatic cancer and normalized after the pancreatic tumor is removed. These results are consistent with the concept that TNF-alpha is involved in metabolic disorders associated with pancreatic cancer. Copyright (C)2002 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP.