The effect of malignant epithelial tumors, surgical therapy, and bacterial sepsis upon various parameters of interferon system.

The influence of tumor load, surgical trauma, and bacterial sepsis upon the ability of patient's peripheral leukocytes to produce interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), the detectable serum IFN levels and circulating serum IFN inactivators were studied. Peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with solid tumors had significantly reduced ability to produce IFN-alpha. Complete resectional surgery resulted in restoration of their ability to produce normal IFN-alpha levels. Circulating IFN levels were detectable in 70% of patients with localized disease while only in 20% of patients with metastatic disease. Interferon-alpha activators were detected in 45% of all patients. Both circulating interferon and IFN-alpha inactivators became undetectable upon tumor resection. Surgical trauma is accompanied by a transient but definite decrease in IFN-alpha production capability. Bacterial sepsis during postoperative days, in patients who successfully recovered, was definitely accompanied by increase in IFN-alpha production capability. Our findings suggest that advanced malignant epithelial tumors have an adverse effect upon the patient's ability to produce interferon and are often accompanied by the presence of circulating serum interferon inactivators. These effects can be reversed by surgical resection of the malignant neoplasm.