title: Influence of pegylated interferon-alpha therapy on plasma levels of citrulline and arginine in melanoma patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha) on the plasma citrulline/arginine ratio, regarded as an index of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, in patients with high-risk melanoma. Forty patients were randomly assigned to either PEG-IFN-alpha treatment (n = 22) or to observation only (control group, n = 18). The treatment group received 6 microg PEG-IFN-alpha/kg once a week during 8 weeks, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 microg/kg/wk. Blood was collected at different time points, plasma concentrations of citrulline and arginine were measured and the ratio of citrulline/arginine was calculated. Patients treated with PEG-IFN-alpha showed a significant decrease in the concentrations of citrulline and in the citrulline/arginine ratio during the whole study period, both compared to baseline values and to the control group. The data suggest that therapy with PEG-IFN-alpha results in a marked decrease in the synthesis of NO in melanoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands. d.fekkes@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fekkes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bannink
authors.forename: W H J
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kruit
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Van Gool
authors.forename: P G H
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sleijfer
authors.forename: A M M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eggermont
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoter
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001120:Arginine / Q000097:blood*; D002956:Citrulline / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D001120:Arginine; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b