Role of lymphotoxin-a and interleukin-17A in human prostate cancer.

212 Background: Infiltrating immune cells have been implicated in prostate carcinogenesis. Murine studies suggest that B-cell-derived lymphotoxin (LT)a may be a key effector in the evolution to castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) (Ammirante et al, Nature 2011). Lymphotoxin a has also been implicated in the progression of murine fibrosarcoma, where it complements interleukin (IL)-17A, to synergistically enhance NFkB signaling. This interaction may also apply to human prostate cancer since IL-17-producing Th17 cells are abundant in these tumors. However, the role of LTα in human as distinct from murine prostate cancer remains unclear. Clinical validation is vital since murine models poorly recapitulate the behavior of prostate cancer in man. Methods: Serum levels of LTα and IL-17A were measured by ELISA in patients with benign (n=22) and malignant prostate disease (n=87). Samples were from 29 early prostate cancer patients (amenable to radical therapy), 28 with androgen-sensitive (AS) disease and 30 w...