title: Amplification of eosinophilia by melatonin during the immunotherapy of cancer with interleukin-2.
abstract: Eosinophilia, which occurs during IL-2 immunotherapy, has appeared to be due to an enhanced secretion of IL-5 and to be associated with a clinical response. Since our previous experimental studies showed that the pineal hormone MLT potentiates IL-2 efficacy, a study was started to evaluate the influence of a concomitant MLT administration on IL-2-induced eosinophilia. The study included 30 advanced solid tumor patients, 16 of whom received IL-2 alone (6 million IU/day) and the other 14 IL-2 plus MLT (10 mg/day orally at 8.00 P.M.). Eosinophil mean number was significantly enhanced during both treatments, but its increase in patients receiving IL-2 plus MLT was significantly higher than that seen in patients treated with IL-2 alone. These results show that MLT may enhance IL-2-induced eosinophilia, by suggesting that T helper lymphocyte- type 2, which is the source of IL-5, may be the target cell for MLT action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological Radiotherapy, S. Gerardo Hospital, Monza (Mi), Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lissoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ardizzoia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tisi
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: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Maestroni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015848:Interleukin-5; D008550:Melatonin