Cytokines in human breast cancer:: IL-1α and IL-1β expression

We hypothesize that interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) are present and tumor cell associated in human breast cancer (HBC) specimens. To test our hypothesis: a) immunologic analysis was performed on HBC histologic sections for IL-1 alpha (n=49) and IL-1 beta (n=42) distribution; and b) homogenates of HBC tumors were analyzed for levels of IL-1 alpha (n=82), IL-1 beta (n=101) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) (n=103) expression. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in tumor cells in patients with invasive cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ. Quantitative analysis confirmed the presence and positive correlation of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta to IL-8, a known angiogenic factor, in cancer specimens. These studies demonstrate that tumor-associated IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta are present in the turner microenvironment and may play a pivotal role in regulating breast tumor growth and metastasis.