title: Influence of immunotherapy with interferon-alpha on regulatory T cells in renal cell carcinoma patients.
abstract: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has extremely broad effects on the immune system, and the influence of IFN-alpha on regulatory T (Treg) cells is not fully known. In this report, Treg cells were analyzed in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following IFN-alpha monotherapy or treatment with IFN-alpha and interleukin (IL)-2. CD4(+) and FoxP3(+) Treg cells were significantly decreased for 2 weeks after the initiation of IFN-alpha monotherapy, but recovered later as treatment proceeded. Patients treated with both IFN-alpha and IL-2 increased their Treg cell levels during the first 2 weeks after initiation of treatment. Patients who derived complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD) from IFN-alpha monotherapy had lower Treg cell levels before treatment than did patients whose disease progressed. Low Treg cell levels before treatment may therefore be advantageous to subsequent immunotherapy with IFN-alpha, and predictive for treatment results in RCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. KTatsu@uro.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tatsugami
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eto
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002452:Cell Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2