title: Administration of fibroblast interferon to patients with advanced breast cancer: possible effects on skin metastasis and on hormone receptors.
abstract: Eleven patients with metastasized breast cancer received 8 intramuscular injections of 6 x 10(6) units of human fibroblast interferon over a period of 40 days. The injections did not cause local irritation or inflammation. Fever occurred in only 1 of the 11 patients. Although several types of metastases were monitored, only skin nodules consistently (10 out of 11 patients) exhibited changes that were suggestive of a therapeutic effect of the treatment regimen: either a simple decrease in size of some nodules or central necrosis accompanied by an inflammatory reaction. NK-activity of peripheral blood leukocytes was significantly increased after administration of the first dose; the effect of subsequent injections was less clear. Receptors for estrogens and progestogens were increased in the tumor biopsies of 2 out of 2 and 5 out of 6 patients tested respectively.
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone