Decrease in cholesterol levels during the immunotherapy of cancer with interleukin-2.
IL-2, in addition to its immunomodulating and antitumour properties, induces important systemic actions, including cardiovascular, neuroendocrine and metabolic effects. The present study was carried out to evaluate IL-2 effects on cholesterol metabolism. The study included 14 advanced cancer patients (renal carcinoma: ten; colon carcinoma: four), who received IL-2 subcutaneously at a dose of 1.8 x 10(6) IU ml-2 twice daily for 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Venous blood samples were collected 7 days before, on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 42 of IL-2 therapy, and on days 14 and 28 of the rest-period. IL-2 induced a rapid and evident decrease in cholesterol levels, with a normalisation of its concentrations within 7 days in 10/10 hypercholesterolemic patients. The lowest mean levels of cholesterol were reached within the first 2 weeks; after that they still slowly increased. LDL-/HDL-cholesterol ratio was significantly reduced by IL-2 therapy. Cholesterol fall was associated with a marked increase in conjugated biliary acid levels. Finally, triglyceride values increased during IL-2 therapy, but not in a significant manner. These results, by showing that IL-2 exerts an evident and very rapid cholesterol-lowering activity, would represent a further demonstration of the physiological importance of cytokines in the control of cholesterol metabolism.
Divisione di Radioterapia Oncologica, Hospital of Monza, Italy.
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Lissoni
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F
Brivio
S
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Pittalis
M S
MS
Perego
A
A
Ardizzoia
O
O
Mauri
S
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Barni
S
S
Crispino
G
G
Tancini
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007376:Interleukin-2; D002784:Cholesterol