title: Enhanced serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin, neopterin, and interferon-gamma in patients treated with recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
abstract: The effect of different doses of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) on serum levels of neopterin, beta-2-microglobulin and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was investigated in tumor patients. Twelve patients with advanced malignant disease were treated and received single doses of either 1, 10, or 100 micrograms/m2 rTNF-alpha on days 0 and 7. Neopterin, beta-2-microglobulin and IFN-gamma serum levels were measured from day -2 to day 12 of the study. Application of rTNF-alpha leads to a marked and dose-dependent increase of neopterin and beta-2-microglobulin levels; no rTNF-alpha-dependent changes were observed after 1 microgram/m2, and maximum increments were seen in patients receiving 100 micrograms/m2. Serum levels of both parameters peaked after 2 days and returned to baseline values within 1 week. IFN-gamma levels were also elevated after application of rTNF-alpha. We failed, however, to demonstrate a clear correlation between the serum levels of IFN-gamma, beta-2-microglobulin, and neopterin because of the wide range of pre- and posttreatment levels of IFN-gamma. We conclude that neopterin and beta-2-microglobulin represent useful markers for monitoring biological response to treatment with rTNF-alpha.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Innsbruck University Hospital, Austria.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Aulitzky
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tilg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Judmaier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gastl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mull
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flener
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiegele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D007371:Interferon-gamma