title: Low-dose oral use of human interferon-alpha in cancer patients.
abstract: In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 57 adult subjects with disseminated malignancies were given orally low doses of recombinant human interferon-alpha (rHuIFN-alpha) at 0.05 IU, 0.5 IU, or 5.0 IU/kg body weight. The objective was to determine the efficacy of orally administered rHuIFN-alpha on appetite stimulation and/or weight loss prevention in anorectic cancer patients. Almost two-thirds (64%) of the subjects given 5.0 IU/kg reported an increase in appetite or body weight after 5 weeks in contrast to only 29% of the placebo-treated subjects. However, at the end of the 91-day trial, no significant differences in appetite enhancement or weight gain were noted between these two groups. Additionally, the 5.0 IU/kg treated group experienced half as many deaths as the control group by the conclusion of this 91-day trial.
authors.affiliation: Amarillo Biosciences, Inc., TX 79101-3206, USA. amacell@arn.net
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pruitt
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000855:Anorexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019167:Appetite Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019167:Appetite Stimulants; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins