Abstract
Interferon-α (IFN-α) was prophylactically administered to the patients with high-stage renal cell cancer after radical nephrectomy. Seventeen patients who were at high risk for recurrence of disease received 500 x 104 units of IFN-α, 2 or 3 times per week for 2 years. Median followup was 21.5 months. Of the patients 4 (23.5%) revealed pulmonary metastasis with or without local recurrence. The administration of IFN-α for 2 patients was discontinued because of side effects. One patient showing pulmonary metastasis has survived, 2 died of cancer and 1 of an unrelated cause. Immunological changes were analyzed by measurement of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets. Two-color flow cytometry was used to evaluate the lymphocyte subsets consisting of suppressor T lymphocytes (CD8+ CD11b+), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+ CD11b-), helper T lymphocytes (CD4+ CD45 RA+), suppressor inducer T lymphocytes (CD4+ CD45 RA-), natural killer cells (CD3- CD56+), natural killer T cells (CD3+ CD56+), activated CD8 positive cells (CD8+ HLA-DR+) and activated CD4 positive cells (CD4+ HLA DR+). The number of suppressor T lymphocytes and activated CD8 positive cells increased in the recurrent cases. In contrast, suppressor T lymphocytes gradually decreased after IFN-α treatment, and no evidence of cancer was found in the remaining cases.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1201-1207 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Biotherapy |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 9 |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |
Keywords
- Adjuvant therapy
- Interferon-α
- Lymphocyte subset
- Renal cell cancer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research