title: Modulating effect of interleukin 2 therapy on interferon production by blood leukocytes of patients with minimal residual hematological disease.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the effect of 1.8 x 10(6) U/day interleukin 2 (IL-2) therapy on interferon (IFN) production. Patients enrolled in the study suffered from multiple myeloma (MM), Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). All of them were in remission after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Results indicated that IL-2 given subcutaneously at a dose of 1.8 x 10(6) U/day for 3 weeks induced IFN-gamma in serum of patients and caused a prolonged effect on the ability of blood leukocytes to produce IFN-gamma after stimulation in vitro by mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Such enhancement of IFN-gamma production may be beneficial for antitumor immune response. Low-dose IL-2 therapy was well tolerated by all patients and side effects not exceeding II grade of toxicity according to WHO scale were observed. Five patients with MM have relapsed 3-10 months after cesation of IL-2 therapy but 15 patients 18 months after therapy were in complete remission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Immunology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandefer-Szerszeń
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Legieć
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dmoszyńska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szuster-Ciesielska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma