In our previous studies we have shown that ascitic fluids from ovarian cancer patients contain several distinct immunosuppressive activities that might correspond to the functions of interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha (sIL-2Rα). This study was undertaken to evaluate the levels of IL-10, IL-1ra and sIL-2Rα in cystic and ascitic fluids from patients with benign ovarian neoplasms and epithelial ovarian cancers. Cystic fluids from 16 patients with benign ovarian cysts and ascitic fluids from 25 patients with ovarian cancer were assayed for IL-10, IL-1ra and sIL-2Ra by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean levels of IL-10, IL-1ra and sIL-2Rα both in cystic and ascitic fluids were above the mean levels determined by others in normal sera. The ascitic fluids from patients with ovarian cancer contained significantly elevated levels of IL-10 and sIL-2R, compared to cystic exudates from non-malignant tumours. The results reported here provide direct evidence that the immunosuppressive effects of both malignant and non-malignant ovarian exudates depend upon mechanisms which act at different stages of the immune response.

Keywords: interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), soluble IL-2 receptor alpha (sIL-2Ra), Cytokines, ovarian tumours, ascitic fluids