Abstract 790P
Background
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NET) participate in the implementation of the polarized neutrophils (Nph) pro-tumor function in various malignant neoplasms. Neutrophil elastase (NE) and interleukin-8 (CXCL8) regulate effector function of NET and are released in active form with NET to the extracellular space. The study was aimed to assess the levels of NE and CXCL8 in serum and Nph, and NET-forming function of Nph in CIN and cervical cancer (CC).
Methods
The study included patients with primary cervical cancer I-IV FIGO stages (n=50), CIN I-III (n=32), and 22 healthy women aged 22-45 years. The levels of CXCL8 (JSC Vector-Best-Volga, Russia), neutrophil elastase (PMN-Elastase, Quantikine ELISA Kits, R&D Systems, USA) were determined by ELISA in serum and Nph lysate. To assess the NET formation, we determined the proportion of NET-forming neutrophils - traps number (TN, %), and Nph ability to capture yeast cells - trap index (TI, cu) (patent RU2008112636A, Dolgushin I.I., Andreeva Y.S., 2009). Informed voluntary consent was obtained from all participants. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13.0 (TIBCO, USA).
Results
In cervical cancer, TN was higher both in comparison with the control (p=0.028) and with CIN (p=0.051). The Nph in CIN group formed more NET than the control group Nph (p=0.021). TI was increased in CIN compared with the control (p=0.013) and decreased in stage IIb-IV CC compared with control (p=0.005) and CIN (p=0.002). The NE levels in Nph were increased in CIN in comparison with the control (p=0.0001), and in CC - increased in comparison with CIN (p=0.048). In CC, the NE levels in Nph negatively correlated with TN (r=-0.407, p=0.003), and positively - with TI (r=0.335, p=0.015). The serum NE levels in CIN were decreased in comparison with the control (p=0.0001). In CC, serum NE levels increased compared with CIN (p=0.0001). The CXCL8 expression in Nph did not differ in CIN and the control (p=0.481), but was lower in CC than in CIN (p=0.0001). The CXCL8 level in Nph was inversely correlated with TN in CIN (r=-0.377, p=0.037).
Conclusions
The number of NET formed and NE expression in Nph increases with CIN in comparison with control, and in cervical cancer in comparison with CIN, but the effector function of NET in cervical cancer may be impaired.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.