title: Low-dose interleukin-2 subcutaneous immunotherapy in association with the pineal hormone melatonin as a first-line therapy in locally advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Experimental studies have showed that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are susceptible to cytolysis of interleukin (IL)-2-activated lymphocytes. Moreover, our previous studies demonstrated that the pineal neurohormone melatonin (MLT) may enhance IL-2 efficacy. On this basis, a study was started with low-dose IL-2 (3 million U/day subcutaneously for 6 days/week for 4 weeks) plus MLT (50 mg/day orally every day given in the evening) as a first-line therapy of unresectable HCC. The study included 14 patients. Objective tumour regressions were obtained in 5/14 (36%) patients (one complete response, four partial responses), with a median duration of 7+ months. 6 patients had stable disease, while the other 3 progressed. Toxicity was low in all cases. This study shows that the neuroimmunotherapy with low-dose IL-2 plus MLT is a new well-tolerated and effective therapy of advanced HCC.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Medicina I, San Gerardo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aldeghi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lissoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ardizzoia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tancini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piperno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricci
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; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D019798:Neopterin; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D008550:Melatonin