EFFECT OF INTERLEUKIN-2 ON URINARY-EXCRETION OF DEGRADATION PRODUCTS OF PROSTACYCLIN AND THROMBOXANE A(2) IN PATIENTS WITH OVARIAN-CANCER

We studied the effect of intraperitoneal recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) on the production of prostacyclin (PGI(2)) and thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) in six patients with metastatic ovarian malignancy. Time-span urine samples collected before and after 17 intraperitoneal instillations of IL-2 (6 x 10(5) IU m(-2)) were assessed for 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F-1 alpha (dinor-6-keto; a metabolite reflecting the in vivo product of PGI(2)) and 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B-2 (dinor-TxB(2); a metabolite reflecting the production of TxA(2)). Analysis was by high-pressure liquid chromatography, followed by radioimmunoassay. Recombinant IL-2 administration was accompanied by a significant rise (85%; P<0.02) in the output of dinor-6-keto within the first 2 h, and this elevation persisted for up to 6 h. Moreover, output of dinor-TxB(2) also rose; this rise (30%) was significant (P<0.02) 6 h after the instillation. These effects may, in some yet unknown manner, prove significant in the anti-cancer action of rIL-2.