title: Normalization of the light/dark rhythm of melatonin after prolonged subcutaneous administration of interleukin-2 in advanced small cell lung cancer patients.
abstract: It has been demonstrated that antitumor immune response is an IL-2-dependent phenomenon. Moreover, experimental results suggest the existence of interactions between IL-2 and the pineal gland, which also plays a role in the control of immunity and cancer growth. Alterations of both IL-2 and melatonin secretion have been reported in cancer patients. To further investigate pineal/IL-2 relationships in humans with cancer, we evaluated the melatonin rhythm in seven advanced small cell lung cancer patients, before and at weekly intervals during immunotherapy with IL-2, given subcutaneously at a daily dose of 3 x 10(6) IU/m2 twice daily for 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Before IL-2, no patient showed a light/dark rhythm of melatonin. IL-2 administration induced a normalization of the melatonin circadian rhythm, with the appearance of a night time peak in 4/7 patients. This effect, however, disappeared with IL-2 interruption in 3/4 patients. This preliminary study, by showing that IL-2 may restore a normal melatonin rhythm, suggests that the anomalous pineal function in cancer may depend at least in part on the altered endogenous IL-2 production.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology A, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viviani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bidoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spinazzé
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rovelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lissoni
mesh_terms: D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008027:Light; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D008550:Melatonin