title: Recombinant a2 interferon (a-IFN) with chemo-hormonal therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
abstract: Recent studies on HCC treatment reveal a tendency to use combined immuno-chemo-therapy. Additionally, new agents have been suggested in this field. We therefore studied 7 patients with proven inoperable HCC who were treated in accordance with the following protocol, and 5 untreated patients used as controls. Therapeutic trial: 1) 1FNa (Roferon): 6 MU x 7 days consecutively every 3 weeks, 2) Adriamycin (doxorubicin): 60 mg/m2 i. v. once every 3 weeks (500 mg total dose), 3) Tamoxifen: 10 mg p.o. twice daily continuously 4) Desferrioxamine (DFO): 500 mg i.m. daily x 7 days consecutively every 3 weeks, 5) ascorbic acid: 300 mg p.o. daily 1 hour after DFO administration x 7 days consecutively every 3 weeks. Follow-up studies were performed monthly and comprised clinical, biochemical, radiological and immunological (T-cell subsets, NK cells, monocyte-macrophage function, IL-2r expression, HLA-DR expression) parameters. Compared with the control group, the treated group had a longer survival rate (p < 0.001), increased tumor regression and less progressive disease. Immunologically, the treated patients with the maintenance of a sufficient immune status were associated with a prolonged survival rate. No serious side effects of the regimen were observed. In conclusion, IFNa combined with chemohormonal therapy appears to be beneficial in HCC patients. In addition, a prolonged survival rate might correlate with the maintenance of an adequate immune status in the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kountouras
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karolides
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zaharioudaki
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsapas
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015996:Survival Rate; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003676:Deferoxamine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid