ISSN:
1434-0879
Keywords:
Renal cell carcinoma
;
Circulating immune markers
;
Immunotherapy
;
Interferon gamma
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Circulating immune markers sICAM-1, sELAM-1, sMHC-I, β2-MG, sCD4 and sCD8 were evaluated prior to and during immunotherapy with biologically active doses of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in 16 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) over a period of 12 months. Compared to 20 healthy controls, significantly (P 〈 0.01) elevated baseline levels of circulating adhesion molecules sICAM-1 (mean 1166 vs 230 ng/ml) and sELAM-1 (70 vs 17 ng/ml) were found in all patients. Compared to responders (n = 2) or patients with stable disease (n = 2), progressive disease during therapy (n = 12) was associa ed with significantly (P 〈 0.05) higher mean concentrations of sICAM-1 (1574 vs 962 ng/ml) and sELAM-1 (86 vs 46 ng/ml). Pretherapeutic and intratherapeutic levels of sMHC-I among the RCC patients were significantly (P 〈 0.05) lower than among the controls (0.41 vs 0.8 ng/ml). sCD4 levels clearly showed the same tendency (24 vs 33 U/l). sCD8 baseline levels, by contrast, were significantly (P 〈 0.05) elevated (564 vs 336 U/l), reflecting either activation of the NK-cell subset or increased synthesis of CD8 + T-suppressor cells. Again, significantly (P 〈 0.05) higher intratherapeutic sCD8 concentrations were observable with progressive disease than with response to therapy or stable disease (721 vs 355 U/l). Interestingly, although the biologically active dose of IFN-γ was defined by an increase in β2-MG release of at least 30% within 48 h after injection, none of the other markers showed any significant alteration following IFN-γ administration, suggesting that IFN-γ in vivo does not produce changes in circulating markers of activation that might be expected on the basis of its effects in vitro. The finding of significantly elevated concentrations of sICAM-1, sELAM-1 and sCD8 in the presence of low sCD4 and sMHC-I levels might be of clinical significance for indicating ongoing tumor progression.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00431087
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