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Assessment of monocyte function in breast disease
C R Spillert1, G T Curtis, E J Lazaro
1Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103.
Southern Medical Journal
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Monocyte dysfunction, indicated by tissue factor generation, is heightened in breast cancer patients. This study measured monocyte activation using recalcification times in blood samples from healthy women and cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Monocyte dysfunction is observed in cancer patients.
- Tissue factor generation by monocytes signifies their activation.
- Monocytes are the sole blood cells capable of generating tissue factor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a method for measuring monocyte activation.
- To compare monocyte activation levels in healthy women, women with cystic hyperplasia, and women with breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of citrated blood with saline (control) or endotoxin (activator).
- Determination of recalcification time as a measure of monocyte activation.
- Comparison of recalcification times across different study groups.
Main Results:
- Saline-incubated samples showed similar recalcification times in healthy women and those with cystic hyperplasia.
- Recalcification times were significantly shortened in breast cancer patients' saline-incubated samples.
- Endotoxin-activated samples exhibited significantly shorter recalcification times in breast cancer patients compared to cystic hyperplasia patients and healthy women.
Conclusions:
- Recalcification time is a viable measure of monocyte activation.
- Breast cancer is associated with heightened monocyte activation.
- Monocyte activation levels are significantly elevated in breast cancer patients compared to controls.