title: Recombinant alpha-2b-interferon enhances the circulating levels of a 90-kilodalton (K) tumor-associated antigen in patients with gynecologic and breast malignancies.
abstract: The circulating levels of a 90-kilodalton (K) tumor-associated antigen were measured in the blood of 43 patients with gynecologic and breast malignancies who underwent a short course of recombinant alpha-2b-interferon (rIFN alpha-2b) (3 million U/m2/d intramuscularly [IM] for 3 days). Of the 43 patients, 23 showed abnormal 90-K levels (greater than 1.7 U/ml). A significant increase of antigen levels was already observed 24 hours after the first administration and persisted throughout the investigation period. Of 20 patients with 90-K levels below the normal limit, 12 went over the normal cutoff value after two rIFN alpha-2b injections. No significant modifications of 90-K levels were detected in nine women receiving rIFN alpha-2b for the treatment of genital condylomata. The serum levels of two other tumor-associated antigens, CA 125 and CA 15-3, were not modified by rIFN alpha-2b administration. The ability of rIFN alpha-2b to increase the circulating levels of 90-K might have important clinical implications for the serodetection of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Panici
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iacobelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baiocchi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sonsini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrandina
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Natoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C081856:LGALS3BP protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins