Angiogenic and immune parameters during recombinant interferon-alpha2b adjuvant treatment in patients with melanoma.
As an adjuvant therapy for patients with high risk of recurrent melanoma, high-dose interferon (IFN)-alpha2b therapy has been shown to have some efficacy. We examined 22 patients with resected melanoma who were treated with repeated injections of recombinant IFN-alpha2b during the treatment. Both angiogenic and immune parameters were measured. White blood cells (WBCs) and lymphocyte numbers, lymphocyte subpopulations, serum concentrations of IFN-alpha and anti-IFN-alpha antibodies, and the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-8, and basis fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) concentrations were determined over time in resected, recurrence-free patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III melanoma with one or less (LN+ < or = 1, n = 7) or more than one (LN+ > 1, n = 8) lymph nodes involved, and AJCC stage IV resected disease (n = 7). Follow-up and recurrence-free intervals were longer in stage III (LN+ < or = 1) patients compared with stage IV patients (P < 0.05). The number of WBCs and lymphocytes decreased during the treatment for all patient groups (P < 0.001). In addition, percentages of CD8 and CD20 were higher in stage IV patients than in stage III (LN+ > 1) and stage III (LN+ < or = 1) patients at the beginning of therapy (P < 0.05). A significant increase in the percentage of CD20+ cells, mostly B lymphocytes, was observed in the stage III (LN+ > 1) and stage III (LN+ < or = 1) patients over time but not in stage IV patients (P < 0.001). Low IL-8 and bFGF concentrations at the beginning of therapy were associated with significantly longer recurrence-free survival (P < 0.05). These results warrant a larger trial to determine if the differences observed in patients before treatment can provide prognostic markers in patients receiving IFN-alpha2b therapy.
Dréau
D
D
Department of General Surgery Research, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA. ddreau@carolinas.org
Foster
M
M
Hogg
M
M
Swiggett
J
J
Holder
W D
WD
White
R L
RL
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008222:Lymphokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2