Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: DrugBank:BIOD00017 (IFN-gamma)
 28,919 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Six patients with hairy-cell leukemia were treated with gamma-(IFN-gamma) and alpha-(IFN-alpha-2b) interferon; 3-35 months following splenectomy, treatment was started with 4 X 10(6) U/m2 IFN-gamma sc (iv) every second day for 9-35 weeks. Although the white blood cell counts decreased during therapy from 4.1-49 X 10(9)/l to 1.5-43 X 10(9)/l, no hematological or clinical improvement was obtained. Subsequently (interval 0-13 weeks), IFN-alpha-2b was given at an initial dose of 4 X 10(6) U/m2 sc every second day to all patients. After a treatment period corresponding to that of IFN-gamma administration, a significant hematological improvement was observed in five patients (one early death due to pulmonary embolism). At the last follow-up (9-14 months after start of treatment; maintenance therapy, 1 X 10(6) U every second day), these patients exhibited normal peripheral blood cell counts, and in bone marrow biopsy specimens a marked decrease of hairy cells was seen (1 CR, 3 PR, 1 MR). Adverse reactions including fever, headache, nausea, dryness of the mouth, myalgia, and fatigue did not significantly differ between the two interferon preparations. Whereas IFN-gamma is unlikely to have any significant impact on the course of hairy cell leukemia, IFN-alpha-2b does result in improvement of hematological values and well-being in almost all patients.
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PMID:[Effectiveness of gamma interferon and alpha interferon in hairy cell leukemia]. 311 51

Based upon in vitro and in vivo synergistic activity of Type I and Type II interferons (IFNs) in preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies, we initiated a phase I trial evaluating the doses, safety, and pharmacokinetics of combinations of recombinant DNA-produced human IFN-beta ser and IFN-gamma in 27 patients with cancer. Twenty-four patients were treated with a 2-hour infusion of IFN-gamma, followed by a 10-minute iv injection of IFN-beta ser, three times a week. Patients were entered on fixed dose levels of 1 X 10(6), 3 X 10(6), 10 X 10(6), 30 X 10(6), and 100 X 10(6) units of each IFN. In addition, three patients were treated at the highest dose level with a 10-minute iv infusion of IFN-gamma and a 10-minute iv infusion of IFN-beta ser. The maximally tolerated dose when administered by this schedule for greater than or equal to 4 weeks was 30 X 10(6) units of each IFN. Dose-limiting side effects at doses of 100 X 10(6) units of each IFN consisted of fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, paralytic ileus, and neutropenia. The most common side effects at the three highest dose levels were fever, rigors often requiring parenteral meperidine, and constitutional symptoms. Reversible elevations in SGOT and LDH were also noted. Serum IFN levels were dose related, with peak titers occurring immediately after IFN administration. One patient with a nodular mixed lymphoma had a partial response which has been sustained for over 1 year. We conclude that combinations of IFN-beta ser and IFN-gamma can be safely administered on a chronic basis without enhanced or cumulative toxic effects.
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PMID:Phase I trial of combinations of recombinant interferons beta(ser) and gamma in patients with advanced malignancy. 311 70

2B1 is a bispecific murine monoclonal antibody (BsMAb) with specificity for the c-erbB-2 and Fc gamma RIII extracellular domains. This BsMAb promotes the targeted lysis of malignant cells overexpressing the c-erbB-2 gene product of the HER2/neu proto-oncogene by human natural killer cells and mononuclear phagocytes expressing the Fc gamma RIII A isoform. In a Phase I clinical trial of 2B1, 15 patients with c-erbB-2-overexpressing tumors were treated with 1 h i.v. infusions of 2B1 on days 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of a single course of treatment. Three patients were treated with daily doses of 1.0 mg/m2, while six patients each were treated with 2.5 mg/m2 and 5.0 mg/m2, respectively. The principal non-dose-limiting transient toxicities were fevers, rigors, nausea, vomiting, and leukopenia. Thrombocytopenia was dose limiting at the 5.0 mg/m2 dose level in two patients who had received extensive prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Murine antibody was detectable in serum following 2B1 administration, and its bispecific binding properties were retained. The pharmacokinetics of this murine antibody were variable and best described by nonlinear kinetics with an average t 1/2 of 20 h. Murine antibody bound extensively to all neutrophils and to a proportion of monocytes and lymphocytes. The initial 2B1 treatment induced more than 100-fold increases in circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 6, and interleukin 8 and lesser rises in granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor and IFN-gamma. Brisk human anti-mouse antibody responses were induced in 14 of 15 patients. Several minor clinical responses were observed, with reductions in the thickness of chest wall disease in one patient with disseminated breast cancer. Resolution of pleural effusions and ascites, respectively, were noted in two patients with metastatic colon cancer, and one of two liver metastases resolved in a patient with metastatic colon cancer. Treatment with 2B1 BsMAb has potent immunological consequences. The maximum tolerated dose and Phase II daily dose for patients with extensive prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy was 2.5 mg/m2. Continued dose escalation is required to identify the maximally tolerated dose for patients who have been less heavily pretreated.
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PMID:Phase I trial of 2B1, a bispecific monoclonal antibody targeting c-erbB-2 and Fc gamma RIII. 755 34

A Phase I trial was conducted to investigate the clinical toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and chemiluminescence (CL) responses of alveolar macrophages (AMs), peripheral blood neutrophils, and monocytes after subcutaneous injection of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma). Six patients with lung cancer received rIFN-gamma subcutaneously as single doses of 0.2, 0.6, and 1.8 mg. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed three times: 21 h before as well as 6-7 and 27 h after injection. Serum samples were taken five times during the 27-h follow-up. IFN concentrations were measured from alveolar epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and serum by using an antiviral bioassay. IFN-gamma was not detectable in ELF after subcutaneous injection. AMs did not effect an increase in CL responses to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine or to phosphate-buffered saline. Circulating IFN-gamma was detectable at 3-12 h after an injection of 1.8 mg of rIFN-gamma, the highest dose given. CL responses of peripheral blood monocytes increased in all patients after injection, whereas the responses of neutrophils were less clear-cut. All patients developed systemic side effects such as transient fever, nausea, headaches, and flu-like symptoms. The findings suggest that rIFN-gamma passes poorly from the blood to the pulmonary alveoli. On the basis of this and our previous findings of increased CL responses in AMs and measurable IFN concentrations in ELF after inhalation of rIFN-gamma, we recommend inhalation rather than the parenteral route of IFN-gamma for the treatment of respiratory diseases.
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PMID:Subcutaneously administered recombinant interferon-gamma in humans: pharmacokinetics and effects on chemiluminescence responses of alveolar macrophages, blood neutrophils, and monocytes. 806 1

A Phase I dose escalation trial of i.v. administered recombinant human interleukin 12 (rhIL-12) was performed to determine its toxicity, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, and biological and potential antineoplastic effects. Cohorts of four to six patients with advanced cancer, Karnofsky performance >/=70%, and normal organ function received escalating doses (3-1000 ng/kg/day) of rhIL-12 (Genetics Institute, Inc.) by bolus i.v. injection once as an inpatient and then, after a 2-week rest period, once daily for five days every 3 weeks as an outpatient. Therapy was withheld for grade 3 toxicity (grade 4 hyperbilirubinemia or neutropenia), and dose escalation was halted if three of six patients experienced a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). After establishment of the MTD, eight more patients were enrolled to further assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunobiology of this dose. Forty patients were enrolled, including 20 with renal cancer, 12 with melanoma, and 5 with colon cancer; 25 patients had received prior systemic therapy. Common toxicities included fever/chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and headache. Fever was first observed at the 3 ng/kg dose level, typically occurred 8-12 h after rhIL-12 administration, and was incompletely suppressed with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Routine laboratory changes included anemia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, hyperglycemia, thrombocytopenia, and hypoalbuminemia. DLTs included oral stomatitis and liver function test abnormalities, predominantly elevated transaminases, which occurred in three of four patients at the 1000 ng/kg dose level. The 500 ng/kg dose level was determined to be the MTD. This dose, administered by this schedule, was associated with asymptomatic hepatic function test abnormalities in three patients and an onstudy death due to Clostridia perfringens septicemia but was otherwise well tolerated by the 14 patients treated in the dose escalation and safety phases. The T1/2 elimination of rhIL-12 was calculated to be 5.3-9.6 h. Biological effects included dose-dependent increases in circulating IFN-gamma, which exhibited attenuation with subsequent cycles. Serum neopterin rose in a reproducible fashion regardless of dose or cycle. Tumor necrosis factor alpha was not detected by ELISA. One of 40 patients developed a low titer antibody to rhIL-12. Lymphopenia was observed at all dose levels, with recovery occurring within several days of completing treatment without rebound lymphocytosis. There was one partial response (renal cell cancer) and one transient complete response (melanoma), both in previously untreated patients. Four additional patients received all proposed treatment without disease progression. rhIL-12 administered according to this schedule is biologically and clinically active at doses tolerable by most patients in an outpatient setting. Nonetheless, additional Phase I studies examining different schedules and the mechanisms of the specific DLTs are indicated before proceeding to Phase II testing.
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PMID:Phase I evaluation of intravenous recombinant human interleukin 12 in patients with advanced malignancies. 981 99

Marijuana, a widely abused drug in the US, and its derivatives (cannabinoids) have been used in AIDS and cancer patients for treatment of intractable nausea and cachexia. Yet, objective investigations of the effect of cannabinoids on the human immune system are few. We investigated the effect of delta9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on cytokine production in vitro by human leukemic T, B, eosinophilic and CD8+ NK cell lines as models. THC decreased constitutive production of IL-8, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and RANTES and phorbol ester stimulated production of TNF-alpha, GM-CSF and IFN-gamma by NK cells. It inhibited MIP-1beta in HTLV-1 positive B-cells but tripled IL-8, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta in B-cells and MIP-1beta in eosinophilic cells but doubled IL-8. Both cannabinoids strongly inhibited IL-10 production by HUT-78 T-cells. Results indicate that THC and nonpsychotropic CBD have complex lineage and derivative specific effects on cytokines consistent with previous animal studies. These effects while of potential benefits in some inflammatory/autoimmune diseases may worsen HIV infection, tumorigenesis and allergic inflammation in the lung.
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PMID:Delta9 tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol alter cytokine production by human immune cells. 985 61

ONO-4007 is a synthetic analogue of the lipid A moiety of bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which exhibits antitumor activity by the induction of intratumoral tumor necrosis factor alpha, the potentiation of tumor-infiltrating macrophages, and the inhibition of angiogenesis. Interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-6, and IL-12 induction by ONO-4007 activates cytotoxic natural killer cells to up-regulate IFN-gamma and nitric oxide synthase activity. ONO-4007 was given to 24 patients (13 males and 11 females; median age, 53 years) as a 30-min i.v. infusion on day 1, followed on day 15 by a first treatment cycle consisting of three weekly infusions at the same dose, followed by a rest period of 1 week. Cohorts of six patients received up to a maximum of four treatment cycles at increasing dose levels (75, 100, and 125 mg). The maximum tolerated dose was 125 mg, with grade 3 National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria toxicity (rigors with cyanosis) occurring in two of six patients at this dose level. An additional six patients were treated at 100 mg, the dose below the maximum tolerated dose. Other toxicities included grade 2 National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria myalgia, nausea, and hypotension. The pharmacokinetics of ONO-4007 appeared to be independent of dose and showed linearity with respect to time. ONO-4007 has a low systemic clearance (approximately 1.3 ml/min) and a small volume of distribution (5-8 liters) with a long t1/2 of 74-95 h. The administration of ONO-4007 was shown to result in a significant increase in circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-6. No objective antitumor responses were observed. Seven patients maintained stable disease for at least two cycles, whereas five patients maintained stable disease for the full four-cycle duration of the study. Additional studies are required to determine the antitumor activity of ONO-4007.
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PMID:Phase I study of ONO-4007, a synthetic analogue of the lipid A moiety of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. 1069 May 16

Mitoxantrone is a member of the anthracendione family developed to treat malignancies and increasingly used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been studied as a treatment for MS since the late 1980s, and is licensed in a number of countries for progressive and worsening MS. Review of the published earlier open-label, and more recently of controlled trials suggests that mitoxantrone is efficacious in cases of worsening MS that have an inflammatory component as evidenced by progression with or without superimposed relapses and/or gadolinium (Gd) enhancing magnetic resonance (MR) lesions. Today there is no robust evidence of efficacy in primary progressive MS or in later stages of secondary progressive MS beyond an EDSS score of 6. Relevant immunomodulatory mechanisms act both on T- and B-cell function, and mitoxantrone has selective immune effects in MS by decreasing levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-2R-beta1, IL-10 and IFN-gamma. Adverse events include nausea, alopecia, infections, menstrual disorders, risk of cardiotoxicity and malignancy. Different regimens are used according to different regulatory demands in different countries. The two most commonly used regimens are every 3 months intravenous (i.v.) 12 mg/m2 for 2 years or 20 mg mitoxantrone (i.v.) combined with 1 g methylprednisolone (i.v.) every 4 weeks for 6 months. The cumulative life dose in MS patients is 140 mg/m2. Mitoxantrone is currently used as a second line drug in MS patients whose disease is not controlled by beta-interferon or glatiramer acetate. In this review, we will discuss the clinical disease patterns of MS patients who are most likely to benefit from mitoxantrone, its magnitude of clinical effect, and limitations of using mitoxantrone in MS. Mitoxantrone as a second line therapy in non-responders of beta-interferon and glatiramer acetate will be assessed. Recent strategies of combination therapy, and the optimal dose regimen will also be discussed.
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PMID:Rationale for the use of mitoxantrone in multiple sclerosis. 1526 58

IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma) has several applications in the treatment of IFN-gamma-related skin disorders. While systemic delivery - the major route used to administer IFN-gamma - results in significant side effects and toxicity, including fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and neurotoxicity, transdermal delivery has a very low transduction efficiency. In order to improve the efficiency of transdermal IFN-gamma delivery, we introduced a Pen (penetratin) peptide, a 16-amino-acid-long polypeptide corresponding to the third helix of the DNA-binding domain (homoeodomain) of Antennapedia (a Drosophila transcription factor). The human IFN-gamma gene was then fused with a gene fragment that encodes the Pen of Antennapedia in a bacterial expression vector, producing a genetic in-frame Pen-IFN-gamma. The expressed and purified Pen-IFN-gamma was then found to have a much more efficient transduction profile than native IFN-gamma. In addition, compared with native IFN-gamma, Pen-IFN-gamma exhibited similar activities when added exogenously to a culture medium: (i) induction of IRF-1 gene expression, and (ii) NF-kappaB (nuclear factor kappaB) luciferase reporter activation. These results indicate that the transdermal delivery system using Pen may be an excellent way to replenish IFN-gamma in the various disorders related to this cytokine.
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PMID:Transdermal delivery of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mediated by penetratin, a cell-permeable peptide. 1580 34

To characterize the immune response following primary human hookworm infection, an adult volunteer was infected with 50 L3 larvae of Necator americanus, reinfected 27 months later and followed for a further 6 months. Clinical signs, blood picture, ex-vivo peripheral blood cytokine production (IFN-gamma, IL-5, IL-13, IL-10 to mitogen and hookworm antigen), acute phase proteins (APP) (C-reactive protein, CRP and alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha1-AT) and antibody levels were determined. Dermatitis, oedema, mild nausea and abdominal discomfort followed the primary infection. Eosinophil counts peaked early during both infections but remained elevated ( approximately 18%) throughout. Transient production of IL-5, IL-13 and APP also followed infection but there were negligible levels of IFN-gamma or IL-10. The onset of nausea, oedema and the initial rise in CRP, alpha1-AT, eosinophilia and IL-5 coincided (days 13-27) with the late larval migration and early establishment of the preadult worms in the intestine. Apart from the eosinophilia these responses declined to baseline levels within 4 months and were less pronounced on re-infection.
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PMID:Immune responses following experimental human hookworm infection. 1623 30


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