title: Interferon alpha enhances expression of TAG-72 and carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with primary colorectal cancer.
abstract: Interferons up-regulate the expression of human tumor-associated antigens in animal models and in vitro. The use of interferons may enhance the immunodetection and immunotherapy of tumors by monoclonal antibodies that detect tumor antigens. For this strategy to be effective, however, the interferon must have an effect at the site of the tumor. In this study, the induction by interferon alpha (IFN alpha) of two tumor surface antigens was evaluated in six patients with primary colorectal cancer. Patients were treated with IFN alpha and 48 h later underwent resection of the tumor. The interferon treatment induced expression of a tumor-associated glycoprotein (TAG-72) in two patients without antigen expression prior to interferon but had no effect on one TAG-72-negative tumor. IFN alpha did not induce expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the two patients whose tumors were CEA-negative prior to interferon. In all patients with heterogeneous expression of CEA and TAG-72 prior to IFN alpha treatment, preoperative interferon increased the percentage of cells positive for CEA in two patients and TAG-72 in one patient. This study supports the addition of interferon induction to immunotherapy regimens directed at the CEA and TAG-72 cell-surface antigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mahvi
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sondel
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C047052:tumor-associated antigen 72; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase