Features of the Composition of Cytokines of Various Biological Effects in Patients with Uveal Melanoma: Local Changes in the Lacrimal Fluid. Part 1

Purpose. Conduct an extended analysis of the cytokine status and its role in inflammatory processes in uveal melanoma based on multiplex analysis of the tear fluid.

Patients and methods. Immunological studies of blood serum and lacrimal fluid were performed in 80 patients with uveal melanoma and 38 healthy donors (control group). The average age of the surveyed was 53.7 ± 12.2 years. Group 1 included 32 patients with small-sized choroidal melanoma (T1NoMo), group 2 consisted of 26 patients with medium-sized lesions (T2NoMo), group 3 — 22 patients with large tumor sizes (T3NoMo). The cytokine content in the tear fluid was determined by the method of multiplex analysis on the xMAP platform in the Luminex xPONENT 3.1 software using 47 plex kits (ProcartaPlex, eBioscience, Austria).

Results. In the lacrimal fluid of the patient and the paired eye — an increase in pro-inflammatory (IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-18, TNF-α, MCP-1, MIP-1α, RANTES, GRO-α, IL-8, IP-10), anti-inflammatory (IL-1RA, IL-4, IL-10, IL-5, TGF-1β), proliferative (FGF-2, HGF, IL-15, PDGF-BB, Eotaxin), pro-tumor (NGF-β, IL-7), antitumor (IL-21), angiogenic (VEGF-A, SDF-1α) cytokines in the initial stage of uveal melanoma compared with the control group, p < 0.05.

Conclusion. In response to the manifestation and growth of uveal melanoma, many chemoattractant mediators are produced, including pro-inflammatory and angiogenic effects, which promote tumor progression and affect the body’s immune response. The study of the lacrimal fluid proved the imbalance of the local immunity not only of the patient, but also of the paired «healthy eye». Research into cytokines leads to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of carcinogenesis and may contribute to the development of targeted therapies for inhibiting tumor growth.

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