title: Interferons as biomodulators of fluoropyrimidines in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
abstract: Interferons (IFN)-alpha, -beta, and -gamma enhance the activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vitro and in vivo. Various mechanisms have been identified to account for this modulation. First, IFN induces the enzyme thymidine phosphorylase, thereby enhancing the conversion of 5-FU to its active metabolite, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP), leading to increased depletion of thymidine triphosphate pools and increased DNA fragmentation. Second, IFN treatment leads to abrogation of an 5-FU-associated increase in the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS), thus increasing tumor sensitivity to 5-FU. Finally, IFN augments plasma 5-FU levels. Single-institution studies of 5-FU in combination with IFN-alpha showed high response rates; however, randomized trials demonstrated equivalent survival to 5-FU alone or in combination with leucovorin (LV). Randomized trials of 5-FU double-modulated by both IFN-alpha and LV showed no response or survival advantage compared with 5-FU/LV, and greater toxicity. The randomized trials are all limited by inconsistent schedules of administration of IFN-alpha. The combination of 5-FU and IFN-beta has shown promising results in single-arm and small randomized trials. A large randomized trial, requiring a standardized schedule of administration of IFN-beta, has been initiated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Makower
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wadler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D020536:Enzyme Activators; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil