title: Prevention of interleukin-2-induced thrombocytopenia during the immunotherapy of cancer by a concomitant administration of the pineal hormone melatonin.
abstract: Thrombocytopenia is a frequent haematologic complication of IL-2 immunotherapy of cancer. Preliminary results suggest a role of melatonin in the regulation of platelet production, so a study was started to evaluate the influence of the pineal hormone on IL-2-induced thrombocytopenia. Of 25 lung cancer patients, 10 were treated with melatonin alone, 7 received IL-2 alone and 8 patients were concomitantly treated with IL-2 and melatonin. Thrombocytopenia occurred in 3/7 patients treated with IL-2 alone, and in none of those treated with IL-2 plus melatonin; this difference was statistically significant. Platelet number increased during IL-2 plus melatonin, even though not significantly; on the contrary, platelet number decreased during IL-2 alone. Platelet number observed in patients treated with IL-2 plus melatonin was significantly higher than in those who received IL-2 alone. Finally, melatonin alone did not substantially influence platelet number. These results show that melatonin may abolish IL-2-induced thrombocytopenia. This might be due to an inhibitory effect of melatonin on macrophage-mediated platelet destruction, with a following increase in platelet number due to an enhanced IL-3 production in response to IL-2.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Bregani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lissoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tancini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brivio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Maestroni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D007377:Interleukin-3; D008550:Melatonin