Steroid receptor enhancement by natural interferon-beta in advanced breast cancer.
In the current study we investigated the effect of two different doses of natural interferon-beta (IFN-beta) on steroid hormone receptors in 45 patients with advanced breast cancer. IFN-beta seems to regulate the receptor mechanisms, inducing in cutaneous metastases an increase of oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Moreover, using IFN-beta and tamoxifen as a combined therapy in 23 receptor-positive patients, no negative interference of the two drugs was observed and no relevant side-effects due to the treatment were noticed. The modulation of steroid receptor content by IFN-beta in advanced breast cancer might represent an interesting way to ameliorate the clinical responsiveness to anti-oestrogens.
Istituto di Istologia ed Embriologia Generale, Facoltà di Medicina, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy.
G
G
Sica
F
F
Iacopino
G
G
Lama
D
D
Amadori
M
M
Baroni
F
F
Lo Sardo
P
P
Malacarne
P
P
Marchetti
A
A
Pellegrini
A
A
Zaniboni
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D013629:Tamoxifen; D016899:Interferon-beta