title: Combined treatment with thymosin-alpha1 and low-dose interferon-alpha after ifosfamide in non-small cell lung cancer: a phase-II controlled trial.
abstract: 22 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer were randomized to receive chemotherapy (ifosfamide) or chemotherapy followed by thymosin alpha1 + low-dose IFNalpha. Chemo-immunotherapy induced an enhanced response rate compared with chemotherapy alone (33% and 10% respectively). Although these differences were not significant, the difference in time to progression was (p=0.0059). CD4+, CD8+ and NK cell counts were significantly depressed after two cycles of chemotherapy, while no difference in cell count were seen in chemo-immunotherapy treated patients. Hematologic toxicity was reduced by the immunotherapy, with no grade 3/4 toxicity seen compared to 50% in patients treated with chemotherapy alone.
authors.affiliation: VIII Divisione di Pneumologia, Ospedale C. Forlanini, Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rasi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Portalone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antilli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garaci
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D013947:Thymosin; D007069:Ifosfamide; D000077596:Thymalfasin