The effect of 5-fluorouracil and alpha interferon and 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin on cellular anti-tumour immune responses in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) enhances the activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer although the mechanism is not understood. We have investigated the effect of this combination on cellular immunity and compared this with standard therapy of 5-FU/L-leucovorin, in 24 patients with advanced colorectal cancer. This study has demonstrated an enhancement of the cellular immune response in patients given 5-FU/IFN-alpha with augmentation of natural killer (NK) cell function and abrogation of 5-FU-induced suppression of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity.
Nichols
P H
PH
Department of Clinical Medicine, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Ward
U
U
Ramsden
C W
CW
Primrose
J N
JN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil