Determination of chronic inflammatory states in cancer patients using assay of reactive oxygen species production by neutrophils

Background: Although the systemic inflammatory condition can be confirmed in cancer patients, the pathophysiological importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by neutrophils has not yet been defined. Patients and Methods: Twenty-one patients with inoperable, chemoresistant and radioresistant cancer were enrolled in this study. At least 4 weeks prior to sampling, the patients were free from antitumor treatments. Control samples were also obtained from a healthy donor (39-year-old male). Peripheral blood samples were set 150 μl each on the 2 ml tube with 50 μl Mebiol Gel, and the production of ROS from neutrophils was detected by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LmCL) in a kinetic mode at 30-minute intervals for 2.5 hours with a luminometer at 37°C. Results: Each point, peak value and sum of values of LmCL in the patient group was statistically higher than those in the healthy donor. There were no differences in LmCL according to performance status (PS), type of cancer, age, or gender in cancer patients. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that ROS produced by neutrophils universally reflects the systemic inflammatory condition in cancer patients.