Background: Production of Erythropoietin has been reported for various tumor cell lines in vitro. Also, a number of clinical reports indicate aberrant synthesis and release of erythropoietin, particularly in renal cell cancer patients. These findings raise the question whether erythropoietin, besides its hematopoietic lineage specificity, can exert an autocrine growth modulting effect on non-hematopoietic cells. Material and Methods: We have studied the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhE) on in vitro clonogenic growth of human primary tumor specimens using a soft agar cloning system. Final concentrations ranged from 0.4-400 U/ml. Results: 53/116 (45.7%) tumor specimens were evaluable. Median colony formation in control capillaries without erythropoietin was 10.0 (range 3.0-274.0). Significant stimulation of clonal growth was observed in only two specimens (3.8%) and was not concentration-dependent. Five of 53 (9%) specimens showed inhibition of colony formation in at least one concentration of recombinant human erythropoietin. In four of these specimens, inhibition was observed at 400 U/ml only. Diluent controls were without effect. There was no evidence for a functional interaction between rhE and Interleukin (IL)-lΑ IL-lΒ, IL-3, IL-6, GM-CSF, or G-CSF.1 This work was supported in part by grant W41/88/Ha 1 from the Deutsche Krebshilfe and a grant from the Wissenschaftliches Herausgeberkollegium der MÜnchener Medizinischen Wochenschrift.

Keywords:
Recombinant human erythropoietin, Clonogenic growth, Human tumors
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© 1992 S. Karger AG, Basel
1992
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