title: Intraperitoneal recombinant alpha-interferon for "salvage" immunotherapy in stage III epithelial ovarian cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study.
abstract: Fourteen patients with persistent epithelial ovarian cancer documented at second look laparotomy after combination chemotherapy were treated with 146 cycles of alpha-recombinant interferon (rIFN-alpha 2) administered i.p. The initial dose was 5 X 10(6) units which was escalated weekly to 50 X 10(6) units over 4 weeks and then continued weekly for a total of 16 weeks. Eleven patients underwent surgical reevaluation after therapy which confirmed four pathological complete responses (36%), one partial response (9%), and disease progression in six patients (55%). Five of seven patients (71%) with residual tumor less than 5 mm had a surgically documented response, whereas there was no response in the four patients whose tumors were greater than or equal to 5 mm. Three patients were evaluable for clinical response only: one patient who refused surgery had a complete clinical response with total resolution of ascites; one had stable disease; and one had disease progression. Fever greater than or equal to 38 degrees C was seen in 58%, fever greater than or equal to 39.0 degrees C was seen in 18%, vomiting in 37%, abdominal pain was reported in 22%, and one patient had infectious peritonitis. Peripheral white blood cell counts and i.p. washings were obtained pretreatment and on days 1, 3, and 7 after treatment. While there was no consistent alteration in peripheral white blood cell counts, the numbers of i.p. monocytes and lymphocytes showed a significant boost on day 1 after each dose of rIFN-alpha 2. Natural killer lymphocyte cytotoxicity was elevated in the i.p. cavity fluid obtained from most patients on day 1 after treatment, while blood natural killer lymphocyte cytotoxicity values showed considerable variability. Pharmacokinetic studies show that i.p. levels of rIFN-alpha 2 were 30-1000 times blood levels. rIFN-alpha 2 i.p. may act by increasing concentrations of drug and augmenting regional host cells in patients with minimal residual ovarian cancer.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007700:Kinetics; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I