title: Randomized trial of low-dose interleukin-2 vs cyclosporine A and interferon-gamma after high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood progenitor support in women with high-risk primary breast cancer.
abstract: High-risk primary breast cancer patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and stem cell support (SCS) have shown prolonged disease-free survival (DFS) in many studies; however, only one trial has demonstrated an overall survival benefit (OS). We hypothesize that the period following myeloablative therapy is ideal for immunologic manipulation and studied the effects of two different methods of immunotherapy following HDC with SCS aimed at the window of immune reconstitution. Seventy-two women with high-risk stage II or III breast cancer were randomized following HDC to receive either interleukin 2 (IL-2) at 1 million units/m(2) SQ daily for 28 days or combined cyclosporine A (CsA) at 1.25 mg/kg intravenously daily from day 0 to +28 and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) 0.025 mg/m(2) SQ every 2 days from day +7 to +28. At a median follow-up of 67 months, no significant difference was observed in DFS or OS between the two treatment groups. The IL-2 arm had a 59% DFS (95% CI (0.45, 0.78)) and a 72% OS (95% CI (0.58, 0.88)) at 5 years. The CsA/INF-gamma arm had a similar outcome with a 55% DFS (95% CI (0.40, 0.76)) and a 78% OS (95% CI (0.65, 0.94)) at 5 years. Treatment was well tolerated, without increased toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. ltv2001@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Vahdat
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zipin
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiersten
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troxel
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hesdorffer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D015996:Survival Rate; D013852:Thiotepa / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C508594:IL2 protein, human; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D013852:Thiotepa; D016190:Carboplatin