title: Serum levels of 2',5 oligoadenylate synthetase during interferon therapy in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: We assayed 2',5 oligoadenylate synthetase (2'5-AS) activity in the serum of eight patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) who were undergoing therapy with alpha interferon (IFN). Mean pretreatment levels of 2'5-AS were normal, but upon treatment the levels rose to higher than normal values. Moreover, the degree of enzyme induction in serum was significantly higher in CLL responders (P < 0.003) whereas no difference was found in non-responders. The lack of serum 2'5-AS induction in non-responder patients might be related to unresponsiveness to treatment with IFN. These results seem to show that the measurement of serum levels of 2'5-AS activity may be a useful tool in monitoring IFN treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, Messina University, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Musolino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cincotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Squadrito
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase