Predictors of response to interferon therapy.
OBJECTIVE
There is a critical need for greater understanding of the immunological and disease-related variables that predict clinical benefit from interferon alfa-2b. The identification of predictive markers that permit selection of patients who are most likely to benefit from interferon alfa would allow us to avoid exposing nonresponsive patients to the toxicity of treatment unassociated with benefit, and to double or treble the therapeutic index by excluding more than half of patients who are now offered this therapy, but are not able to benefit.


RESULTS
Subgroup analyses of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer adjuvant trials, translational research studies in tissue from the neoadjuvant high-dose interferon trial, corollary serum and DNA studies of E1690, E1694, E2696, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 18952 and the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings should be further validated in prospective adjuvant trials and corroborated in larger patient samples.
Gogas
Helen
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Greece. hgogas@hol.gr
Kirkwood
John M
JM
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007372:Interferons