title: Treatment of cancer-related thrombocytopenia by low-dose subcutaneous interleukin-2 plus the pineal hormone melatonin: a biological phase II study.
abstract: Despite the platelet production in response to IL-2, cancer immunotherapy with IL-2 tends to induce thrombocytopenia, which probably depends on an enhanced peripheral destruction. On the basis of our previous studies, this effect may be neutralized by a concomitant administration of the pineal hormone melatonin (MLT). This study was performed to investigate the influence of an immunotherapeutic combination with low-dose IL-2 and MLT on platelet number in advanced cancer patients showing persistent thrombocytopenia. The study included 14 advanced solid tumor patients, affected by thrombocytopenia due to different causes (portal hypertension: 9; previous chemotherapies: 3; DIC: 2). IL-2 was injected at 3 million IU/day subcutaneously for 6 days/week for 4 weeks, in association with MLT (40 mg/day orally). A normalization of platelet number occurred in 10/14 (71%) patients, and platelet mean number significantly increased on treatment. No important therapy-related toxicity was observed. This preliminary study would suggest that the concomitant administration of MLT is able not only to neutralize IL-2-induced thrombocytopenia, but also to increase platelet number in thrombocytopenic cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiotherapy, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lissoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brivio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tancini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D010976:Platelet Count; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D008550:Melatonin