Production of IL-5, a classical T(H)2 cytokine, following bacillus Calmette guerin immunotherapy of bladder cancer.

Among the many immunological events associated with successful intravesical bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy of bladder cancer is the induction of a wide range of cytokines including the T helper 2 (T(H)2) designated cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10, but not IL-4, in the urine of the patients. The aim of this work was to determine if this treatment resulted in the production of IL-5, a classical T(H)2 cytokine. Following treatment using ELISA this cytokine was detected in the urine of all patients examined confirming that intravesical BCG therapy does not induce in bladder cancer patients solely a T(H)1 response but rather T(H)1/2 or T(H)0 like response.