title: The prognostic significance of immune changes in patients with renal cancer and melanoma treated with interferon-alpha 2b.
abstract: We evaluated the response rate and the immunorestorative properties of subcutaneously administered interferon-alpha 2b (IFN-alpha 2b) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and melanoma (MEL) and correlated the immune status with clinical responses. Thirty-five patients with advanced RCC and 12 with MEL were treated with recombinant IFN-alpha 2b. The dose was increased progressively from 5 x 10(6) IU the first week to 10 x 10(6) IU the second week and thereafter 15 x 10(6) IU subcutaneously. The response rate for RCC patients was as follows: (1) 6 patients achieved partial responses; (2) 9 patients had stable disease, and (3) 20 patients progressed. The response rate for patients with MEL was as follows: (1) 4 patients experienced partial response and (2) 8 patients progressed. In all patients blood was withdrawn prior to IFN treatment and then monthly. T lymphocytes after isolation from peripheral blood were tested for proliferation in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (auto-MLR), and allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (allo-MLR), interleukin-2 production (IL-2prod), expression of IL-2 receptors (IL-2rec) during the allo-MLR, and interleukin-1 production (IL-1prod) by peripheral blood monocytes. Striking increases were demonstrated in all parameters 1 month after treatment with IFN-alpha 2b. Patients with RCC experiencing a partial response showed a mean increase of 50% in the auto-MLR, 95% in the allo-MLR, 62% IL-2prod, 88% IL-2rec and 76% in IL-1prod.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsavaris
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baxevanis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kosmidis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papamichael
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins