[Wilson-Jones type angiosarcoma with marked response to intrapleural administration of interleukin-2].
A 64-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a hemothorax after one year of therapy for angiosarcoma that had arisen from the skin of the head. The hemothorax was believed to have resulted from metastasis of the angiosarcoma. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) at a dose of 20 x 10(4) U once daily was administered intrapleurally. Clinical improvement was first observed on the second day after the first dose of IL-2. Increases in natural and in lymphokine-activated killer activity of lymphocytes in pleural effusion were found on the eighth day. Starting on the 16th day of IL-2 therapy, no more fluid was drained, so administration of IL-2 was stopped. The clinical course indicated that the pleural effusion disappeared not because of pleurodesis but because of the anti-cancer effects of IL-2. There were no marked side effects, and intrapleural administration of IL-2 may be useful in patients with hemothorax due to metastasis of angiosarcoma.
Yamada
Y
Y
Department of Chest Medicine, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
Takiguchi
Y
Y
Yasuda
J
J
Katou
K
K
Okada
O
O
Kakusaka
I
I
Kimura
H
H
Kuriyama
T
T
D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010994:Pleura; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
D007376:Interleukin-2