title: Enhancement of the efficacy of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil by pretreatment with IL-2 subcutaneous immunotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with lymphocytopenia prior to therapy.
abstract: The present study was carried out to evaluate the influence of a short-period IL-2 administration on the efficacy of chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with pretreatment lymphocytopenia, which was defined as a lymphocyte count of less than 1500/mm3. The study included 144 consecutive metastatic colorectal cancer patients, who underwent chemotherapy with oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil. Lymphocytopenia was seen in 41/144 (28%) patients, who were randomized to receive chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy after a prechemoimmunotherapy with IL-2 (3 MIU twice/day for 3 consecutive days), whereas patients with a normal pretreatment lymphocyte count received only chemotherapy. A normalization of the lymphocyte number was achieved in 12/19 lymphocytopenic patients pretreated with IL-2. The objective tumor regression rate achieved in patients with a normal lymphocyte count prior to chemotherapy was significantly higher compared to that obtained in lmphocytopenic patients treated with chemotherapy alone (54/103 vs. 3/22, p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference occurred between patients with normal lymphocyte count and lymphocytopenic patients pretreated with IL-2 (54/103 vs. 8/19). This study confirms that pretreatment lymphocytopenia is associated with reduced efficacy of chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Moreover, it suggests that pretreatment with IL-2 before the onset of chemotherapy may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in lymphocytopenic patients. Therefore, the administration of IL-2 before the onset of chemotherapy to improve the immune status of cancer patients may be considered as a new chemoimmunotherapeutic combination, which may be recommended in the treatment of advanced cancer patients, particularly in those with cancer-related immune alterations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, S. Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lissoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brivio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Fede
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil