title: Interleukin-2-induced thyroid dysfunction is correlated with treatment duration but not with tumor response.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the putative relationship between immunotherapy-associated dysthyroidism and the probability of a tumor response.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 89 consecutive patients with advanced cancer were treated with interleukin-2 (IL2)-based immunotherapy in a prospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients developed thyroid dysfunction. Repeatedly positive tests for thyroid antibodies developed in 28% of the patients. Twenty-two patients achieved a response. There was no relationship between the formation of antibodies and the probability of response. There appeared to be a trend toward a relationship between thyroid dysfunction and response (P = .23). A strong relationship was found between response on the one hand and cumulative dose of IL2 (P = .01) and treatment duration with IL2 (P = .025) on the other. The frequency of thyroid dysfunction was also significantly correlated with treatment duration (P = .001). After adjustment for cumulative dose of IL2 and treatment duration, no relationship between thyroid dysfunction and response remained (P = .99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no relationship between thyroid dysfunction and the probability of tumor response. Thyroid dysfunction is merely a function of treatment duration and cumulative dose of IL2.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam Cancer Institute Daniel den Hoed Kliniek, The Netherlands.
authors: W H
authors: WH
authors: Kruit
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Bolhuis
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Goey
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Jansen
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Eggermont
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Batchelor
authors: P I
authors: PI
authors: Schmitz
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Stoter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007455:Iodine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D007455:Iodine; D013974:Thyroxine