SERUM PROLACTIN IN MELANOMA PATIENTS WITH INTERFERON ALPHA2B TREATMENT.
The authors' interest was focused on prolactin status in patients with melanocytic lesions and on changes induced by interferon treatment in melanoma patients.


METHODS
The study lasted 5 years and included 128 melanoma patients, 48 dysplastic nevi patients and 48 healthy volunteers. Sixty melanoma cases were selected after surgical removal of tumor and divided into 2 groups: 30 patients with 10 MUmp(-1) interferon alpha2b treatment, three times a week, one year and 30 patients without interferon treatment. Prolactin assessment was made at inclusion in the study, after surgical removal of tumor, when patients started the treatment, after 1, 6, 12 months of treatment and 6 months after treatment end.


RESULTS
In melanoma patients, high values of prolactin (10.55 ± 5.94 ng/ml) were detected when compared with dysplastic nevi group (5.94 ± 2.87 ng/ml) and control group (5.74 ± 3.66 ng.ml). Prolactin levels decreased after surgical removal of melanoma, significantly increased during interferon treatment and returned to baseline few months after the immunomodulatory treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment with interferon alpha2b stimulated reversible and non-cumulative prolactin production. Evaluating prolactin in melanoma patients could become necessary in the future, both for finding a possible pituitary disorder, but also for a new pharmacological intervention.
Corina-Daniela
CD
Ene
Ilinca
I
Nicolae
D000328:Adult; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011388:Prolactin