Interleukin‐1 and tumor necrosis factor production by tumor‐associated mononuclear leukocytes and peripheral mononuclear leukocytes in cancer patients

The production of interleukin‐I (IL‐I) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by tumor‐associated mononuclear leukocytes (TAML) and peripheral mononuclear leukocytes (PBML) from 9 otherwise untreated patients with a variety of malignancies (lung, sarcoma, stomach, renal) was assessed. Cells were cultured for 24 hr in vitro in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and IL‐I and TNF levels were measured in culture supernatants. TNF production was comparable between TAMLs and PBMLs. However, a striking defect in IL‐I production by TAMLs was noted. There was no basal production of IL‐I and LPS‐stimulated TAMLs produced only 1% the amount of IL‐I produced by LPS‐stimulated PBMLs.