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Published data indicate the involvement of eosinophil granulocytes and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in tumor defense. The aim of this study was to analyze serum ECP concentrations in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) before, 3 days and 7 days after radioactive iodine (131-I) therapy. Association of ECP concentrations with histological type of tumor, stage of disease and/or levels of selected T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokines was examined. The study population included 17 DTC patients and 10 control subjects. ECP was measured by fluoroimmunoassay (FIA). Th2 (cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 5 (IL-5), and interleukin 13 (IL-13)) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). We found that ECP values in DTC patients before radioactive iodine therapy were approximately two-fold higher than in the controls, but the difference was statistically significant only if the patients with DTC and associated Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) were included. There was no correlation between the serum concentrations of IL-5 and ECP. Radioactive iodine therapy led to a decrease in serum ECP level which did not follow the decline in serum protein levels. Additional studies are needed to determine the significance of these findings.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) plays an important role in many pathophysiological conditions, including cancer. The level of TGF-β in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has not been examined so far. The aim of this study was to measure TGF-β concentration in serum samples and in PHA-stimulated whole blood culture in vitro and to analyze possible associations of TGF-β1 levels with leukocyte, lymphocyte and platelets counts, the histological type of thyroid cancer, and stage of disease. TGF-β1 was measured in 22 DTC patients and 20 healthy controls using the duoSet ELISA Development kit for human TGF-β1. The concentration of TGF-β1 in serum samples from both groups correlated positively with the platelet counts. There was no statistically significant difference in the serum concentrations of TGF-β1 between DTC patients and control subjects, but PHA stimulated whole blood cultures of DTC patients produced less TGF-β1 than those from controls. Additional studies are needed to determine the significance of these in vitro findings.