Superoxide Anion Generation and Cytostatic Activity Against Lung Cancer Cell Lines by Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Enhanced in a Patient with Colony-Stimulating Factor Producing Pulmonary Giant Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

We examined superoxide anion (O₂^-)-generating activity and cytostatic activity against two lung cancer cell lines of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from a patient with pulmonary giant cell carcinoma in whom there was marked granulocytosis. There was a high level of colonystimulating factor (CSF) in both serum and the supernatant of culture of the primary tumor.The PMN from the patient produced almost three times more O₂^- than did the PMN from healthy donors and other patients with lung cancers but no granulocytosis. Cytostatic activity of cells from the patient against lung cancer cell lines was also augmented, as compared to that of controls.However, following total extripation of the tumor, the level of CSF in the serum decreased, as did activity of PMN for O₂^- generation and cytostasis against lung cancer cell lines reverted to normal levels.
These results imply the possibility that CSF is able to activate the function of the PMN in vivo.