Abstract
Leukocytosis sometimes accompanies malignant neoplasms in the absence of infection. It is thought that the production of colony-stimulating factor by neoplasms is the most potent cause of tumour-induced leukocytosis; several mechanisms have been suggested to explain this. We examined 155 human tumour xenografts established in nude mice, and found that 17 of the xenografts induced remarkable leukocytosis (> 15,000 microliters-1) in nude rats. We examined granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) production by the xenografts to study the mechanisms underlying this tumour-induced leukocytosis. Ten of the 17 xenografted human tumours appeared to express the G-CSF gene. Serum G-CSF increased, to concentrations of 179-37,218 pg ml-1, in host animals transplanted with the ten xenografts expressing the G-CSF gene transcripts. The biological activity of serum G-CSF also increased, to concentrations of 206-9,074 pg ml-1, in the host animals transplanted with the ten xenografts. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated G-CSF production at the cellular level in three of the ten xenografts. These results suggested that the production of G-CSF is a common event in human tumour xenografts associated with leukocytosis, but that factors other than G-CSF are also likely to be involved. Leukocytosis induced by neoplasms seems to be a heterogeneous and complex disorder.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Katoh, Y., Nakamura, M., Ohnishi, Y. et al. Autonomous production of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in tumour xenografts associated with leukocytosis. Br J Cancer 68, 715–719 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1993.416
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1993.416
This article is cited by
-
Leukemoid reaction in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the lung: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports (2012)
-
Comparative study of inhibitory effects by murine interferon ? and a new bisphosphonate (alendronate) in hypercalcemic, nude mice bearing human tumor (LJC-1-JCK)
Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy (1994)