[Plasma granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and activity of enzymes in granulocytes of breast cancer patients].

GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating fractor) is a hematopoietic growth factor. In vitro it stimulates the proliferation of myeloid progenitors and formation of granulocyte and macrophage colonies. It was found that GM-CSF in vitro also stimulates the phagocytic function of mature granulocytes. Indirect evidence of this might be the increase of the activity of granulocyte enzymes participating in phagocytosis. The aim of this study was to compare in vivo the level of GM-CSF in the plasma and activity of acid phosphatase (AcP), alkaline phosphatase (AP), peroxidase (MPO) and esterase in granulocytes of breast cancer patients. The activities of tested enzymes were measured by cytochemical methods in the blood of 14 patients before and 30 days after surgery (group A) and 15 patients before and in the course (12 week) of chemotherapy (groupB) and in 10 healthy subjects. GM-CSF concentration was measured in the plasma, using a sensitive sandwich ELISA. According to obtained results we can conclude that GM-CSF concentration in cancer patients before and after surgery compared to the control group was increased. GM-CSF concentration in patients before and in the course of chemotherapy was increased compared to the control group and patients before and after surgery. Enzyme activities participating in phagocytosis in cancer patients after surgery were increased compared to the enzyme activity in the control group. Enzyme activities in cancer patients in the course of chemotherapy were decreased when compared to the activities in the control group and when compared to the activities in cancer patients before and after surgery. The chemotherapy causes increase of GM-CSF concentration and enzyme activity.