Serum inhibitory factor for guinea pig macrophage and neutrophil chemotaxis found in cancer patients.

The effect of sera from 107 patients with gastrointestinal cancer on macrophage chemotaxis was studied using a modified Boyden chamber technique. A macrophage chemotactic inhibitory factor (CIF) was found in sera of advanced cancer patients. The CIF activity was significantly stage-related, and increased especially in patients with negative cutaneous responsiveness in purified protein derivative, dinitrochlorobenzene and keyhole limpet hemocyanin skin tests, and with low circulating T-lymphocyte levels. In addition, the CIF was found to suppress neutrophil as well as macrophage chemotaxis. suppress neutrophil as well as macrophage chemotaxis. The mode of action and the characteristics of the CIF were investigated, and the following results were obtained. (1) The CIF directly interacted with macrophages and neutrophils and suppressed their chemotactic activities without apparent cytotoxic effect on these cells. (2) On Pevikon block electrophoresis, the CIF activity was most prominent in the alpha-globulin region, although considerable heterogeneity and broadness of the CIF bands were observed. (3) Dialysis and lyophilization had no effects on the CIF activity. On heating at 56 degree for 30 min, the CIF activity seemed to be decreased. This study indicates that CIF in cancer patients may be detrimental to the host immune defense against tumor growth by producing defects of macrophage and neutrophil chemotaxis in vivo.