Enhancement of T lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogens by indomethacin in breast and colorectal cancer patients

Int J Immunopharmacol. 1983;5(1):11-5. doi: 10.1016/0192-0561(83)90066-8.

Abstract

The present study confirms previous observations that in vitro T lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogens is depressed in only some untreated patients with advanced or metastatic breast and colorectal cancer. Indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, at 1.0 microgram or 0.1 microgram/ml concentration significantly enhances the PHA, Con A or PWM response in these patients with breast and colorectal cancer (P less than 0.05 - P less than 0.01). Indomethacin has no mitogenic activity. Ethyl alcohol (0.01%), in which indomethacin is dissolved, also has no mitogenic or cytotoxic activity. Although the in vitro effect of indomethacin has been well-demonstrated, the in vivo effect of this agent on cell-mediated immunity in man has not yet been thoroughly investigated and thus, further studies of the effect of indomethacin administration on in vivo and in vitro cellular immunity seem warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Concanavalin A / pharmacology
  • Ethanol / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indomethacin / pharmacology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phytohemagglutinins / pharmacology
  • Pokeweed Mitogens / pharmacology
  • Rectal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • Pokeweed Mitogens
  • Concanavalin A
  • Ethanol
  • Indomethacin