LABORATORY RESEARCH
(See abstract of a foreign scientific publication of our work)
Breast
cancer and breast implants:
can a chronic granulomatous inflammation provoked by a breast
implant with rough-spongious surface produce acquired immunity
against tumors? - the role of IFN -γ and TNF secreting epitheliold
cells.
I. Lyras, P. Rapti, T. Nassif, G. Cotta-Pereira and I. Pitanguy.
Department of Plastic Surgery, IPGMCC, PC University, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil and *Department of Endocrinology, "Lito" Maternity
Hospital, Athens, Greece
"Recent
Developments in Gynecology and Obstetrics", The Parthenon
Publishing Group, 1996,page 787,
ISBN 1-85070-700-6
A great deal of recent scientific in the fight against cancer
has been achieved in the direction of immunoprotection and immunotherapy.
Nowadays, induction of prospective immunity to tumors can actually
be accomplished by active immunization procedures.
Recent experiments demonstrate that in some cases of disease,
intense inflammatory infiltrates accumulate around cytokine-secreting
tumors(1). (Eosinophils and macrophages dominate IFN-γ secreting
turnors and massive lymphocyte infiltrates, surround IL-2 producing
turnors). This way, depending on the type of infiltrate recruited
around a turnor or a granuloma by different cytokines, different
effector as well as accessory cell functions lead to the optimal
activation of T cells.
Local production of cytokines and lymphokines may augment specific
T cell responses to turnor antigens. Until 1991, silicone gel-filled
breast implants, (used since 1960 for breast augmentation and
breast reconstruction) were considered safe, biocompatible medical
devices. For the past 4 years their use has been restricted
because of the great public and scientific concern related to
the complications they provoke, although recent reports demonstrate
that breast cancer is rarer and of better prognosis in women
that carry breast implants.(2,3,4)
The
present is based mainly on the importance of surface morphology
of the implants and how it affects the healing process on the
site of their inclusion. The results of the present study have
offered us good reasons for further investigations in colaboration
with other centers.
Currently,
we are investigating the variations of interferon, turnor necrosis
factor and other lymphokine blood levels in women with breast
prostheses before and after the implantation of these devices
for both aesthetic and reconstructive reasons.
Another
experimental study, currently underway in our laboratory examines
the effects of the presence of specially designed and patented
by Dr. I. Lyras, medical implants in animals suffering from
provoked or diagnosed cancer.
CONCLUSION
A different model of active immunization against tumors is presented.
By a specially designed high quality biocompatible medical implant
(with rough-spongious surface morphology) placed somewhere inside
the body, we can provoke a permanent low grade granulomatous
chronic inflammation and this way a nonspecific stimulation
of the immune system of patients.
The
mechanism of this stimulation involves a markedly increased
humoral response, lymphocyte memory enhancement and continuous
antigenic activity and is based on the rationale that an implant
containing granuloma behaves and should be considered as a cytokine
and lymphokine-secreting tumor. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor
necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-secreting lymphocytes
and epithelioid cells are key factors of this process.
We
propose that this method of preventive nonspecific stimulation
of the immune system should be seriously considered as a useful
approach for achieving acquired immune defence against cancer.
CLINICAL RESEARCH
Currently evaluating some of the permanent and absorvable fillers in plastic surgery.
For details and collaboration, send us e-mail.
(This project is being monitored by Europen Health Authorities) |
