Abnormal eicosanoid-pattern of peripheral white-blood cells in gastro-intestinal cancer

COX-inhibitors promote nasal polyps or bronchial asthma in individuals susceptible to an alteration of the pattern of the eicosanoids, especially leukotrienes and prostaglandins. This is associated with an abnormal release of eicosanoids from white blood cells. Since COX-inhibitors also protect from colorectal cancer an analogous association may be suggested. The study was performed to detect abnormal patterns of eicosanoids in white blood cells of patients with intestinal cancer compared to healthy controls. Seventy patients with intestinal cancer (stomach = 5; colon = 25; sigma = 18; rectum = 22) were compared to 62 healthy controls. Blood leukocytes from patients in complete long-lasting remission were incubated with diluent, arachidonic acid or acetylsalicylic acid. The synthesis of prostaglandin E(2) and peptido-leukotrienes was quantified using competitive enzyme-immuno-assays and calculated for individual eicosanoid patterns. The mean basal and arachidonic- or acetylsalicylic acid-modulated PGE(2) synthesis in patients was significantly higher than in controls (4.8-fold, 9.4-fold, 3.7-fold, respectively) whereas pLT was generally less elevated. We conclude that the eicosanoid-pattern of white-blood-cells from patients with intestinal cancer differs significantly from that in healthy individuals. This abnormal cellular metabolism may contribute to the manifestation of cancer and help to detect individuals at risk.