Fig. 3. TME cytokine levels do not predict serum cytokine levels, and males and females have different serum and TME cytokine expression.

Cytokines were measured via multi-plex bead-based array from healthy and MC38 tumour-bearing males and females, using serum or organ culture of tumour. a Tumour-bearing mice had elevated serum cytokine levels over healthy mice. b Serum and TME have different, non-correlated patterns of cytokine expression. c Sera from healthy mice has the same cytokine profile, but tumour-bearing males have elevated levels of d IL-6, e LIF, f GCSF and g MIP-1β. The TME of females had higher levels of h GCSF, i IL-10, and a trend toward j increased GM-CSF. (*p < 0.050, **p < 0.010). n = 5–9 between sexes and 12–18 between healthy and tumour groups.