In view of the unclear prognostic and diagnostic role of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and its receptor in human tumours, we examined the cellular expression of IL-2 and of the subunit α of its receptor (IL-2Rα, CD25) in relation to the proliferative activity of various subtypes of lung tumours. The immunocytochemical ABC technique was applied to archival tissue material of neuroendocrine lung tumours: lung carcinoids, including typical carcinoids (TC), atypical carcinoids (AC) and small-cell lung cancers (SCLC) and squamous cell lung cancers (non-small cell lung cancers, NSCLC). Expression of IL-2 was detected in all types of lung tumours. The highest frequency of IL-2 expression (93%) was noted and the most pronounced semi-quantitatively evaluated expression of IL-2 was detected in AC tumour cells. The expression was more pronounced as compared to neoplastic SCLC (p = 0.01) and NSCLC cells (p = 0.005). The results suggest a negative correlation between IL-2 expression and the proliferative activity of tumour cells (evaluated by expression of Ki-67) in AC. The frequency of detection of IL-2 receptor (IL-Rα, CD25) was the highest in NSCLC (94%). Semi-quantitative expression of IL-2R, like that of IL-2, also dominated in the group of atypical lung carcinoids but manifested a significant difference only as compared to typical carcinoids (p = 0.014). Within the groups of tumours studied no correlation could be detected between cellular expressions of IL-2 and IL-2R. Our results demonstrate variable expression of IL-2 and its receptor in various types of lung tumours, but no simple relationship could be detected between tissue expression of the markers and proliferative activity. Appraisal of the diagnostic and/or prognostic significance of the results requires further study.
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