[Stem cell factor (SCF) in the plasma and phagocytic functions of granulocytes in breast cancer patients]

Stem Cell Factor (SCF) is a cytokine which stimulates the growth and development of primitive multipotential and unipotential hematopoietic stem cells in vitro and in vivo either alone or in combination with other cytokines such as Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor and Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor. It was found that SCF in vivo can stimulate function of mature granulocytes and its concentration is increased in cancer diseases. The patients were divided into two groups: A (stage I and II) and B (stage IV). The blood for investigation was collected before and 30 days after surgery (group A) and before and in the course (12 week) of chemotherapy (group B), and from healthy subjects (control group). SCF concentration was measured in the plasma, using a sensitive sandwich ELISA. Functions of mature granulocytes were examinated using the percentage of phagocytizing cells and phagocytic index. According to obtained results we can conclude that SCF concentration in cancer patient in group A and B was decreased compared to the control group. The percentage of phagocytizing cells in group A was increased in comparison to the control group and group B. The phagocytic index in cancer patients (group A and B) was higher than in the control group.