Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0023473 (chronic myeloid leukemia)
 18,916 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The interferons (IFN) are one of the body's natural defensive responses to such foreign components as microbes, tumors, and antigens. The IFN response begins with the production of the IFN proteins (alpha, beta, and gamma), which then induce the antiviral, antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory actions of IFN. Recent advances have led to Food and Drug Administration approval of five clinical indications for IFN. Interferon alfa is approved for hairy-cell leukemia, condyloma acuminatum, Kaposi's sarcoma in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and non-A, non-B (type C) viral hepatitis. Interferon gamma has properties distinctive from those of IFNs alpha and beta and is approved as an immunomodulatory treatment for chronic granulomatous disease. Promising clinical results with IFNs have also been reported for basal cell carcinoma, chronic myelogenous leukemia, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, early human immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis B, and laryngeal papillomatosis. Future clinical uses of IFNs may emphasize combination therapy with other cytokines, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, hyperthermia, or hormones.
 ...
PMID:The interferons. Mechanisms of action and clinical applications. 137 Mar 33

Only the recent production of large amounts of highly purified recombinant interferons has made it possible to elucidate precisely the in vitro and in vivo effect of alpha- and gamma-interferon. Interferon-alpha has significantly widened the treatment modalities for some rare tumors such as hairy cell leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Although treatment results in solid tumors are disappointing, tumor regression greater than 50% is achieved in 15-25% of patients with hypernephroma or melanoma, cancers highly resistant to cytotoxic drugs. The solid tumors must be treated with high doses of interferon-alpha which causes severe side effects. Interferon-induced toxicity can be reduced by continuous subcutaneous infusion. Interferon-alpha is also used for the treatment of viral diseases such as chronic hepatitis-B, as well as for patients with AIDS and Kaposi sarcoma. Other virus infections such as herpes simplex and condylomata acuminata represent the few established indications for treatment with interferon-beta. Interferon-gamma has distinct immunomodulatory effects in vitro and in vivo, although the clinical significance of this potential has not yet been established. Thus far the treatment results in tumor patients have been poor. The future will show if the combination of interferons with other biological response modifiers, such as tumor necrosis factor or interleukin-2, or with cytotoxic drugs, brings further progress in cancer treatment.
 ...
PMID:[Possibilities and limits of the use of interferons in the clinic]. 247 77

The effects and toxicities of interferon alfa are described, and the role of the pharmacist in making decisions and providing education about biologic response modifiers (BRMs) is discussed. Interferons have both direct antitumor activity and extensive effects on the immune system. Two recombinant interferon alfa products--interferon alfa-2a and interferon alfa-2b are available commercially. Indications in FDA-approved labeling for interferon alfa include the treatment of hairy-cell leukemia, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Kaposi's sarcoma, and genital warts; however, it also is being used successfully against early chronic myelogenous leukemia, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and previously untreated multiple myeloma. Other malignancies that respond to treatment with interferon alfa are malignant melanoma, ovarian carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma. The toxic pattern of interferon alfa consists of flu-like symptoms, which are seen at all doses, on all schedules, and in virtually all patients. After repeated dosing, the chronic toxicities of anorexia, weight loss, and malaise and fatigue may develop. Myelosuppression, central nervous system toxicity, increased hepatic enzyme concentrations, nausea and vomiting, and cardiovascular toxicity also are possible. Serum neutralizing antibodies may be formed during therapy; this phenomenon may affect the clinical outcome. Numerous BRMs are being investigated for clinical use, and pharmacists must become conversant in the issues that surround these agents. Areas in which pharmacist involvement and knowledge are important include overall cost, product similarities and differences, dosing and scheduling, drug delivery systems, ways to minimize waste, adverse effects and their management, drug interactions, storage requirements, differences in production and purification techniques among manufacturers, and education of patients and staff.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Biologic response modifiers: the interferon alfa experience. 248 96

Initially discovered as antiviral agents, the interferons (IFNs) proved to be a class of cytokines with multifunctional properties, including inhibition of cell growth and modulation of immune functions. A number of clinical trials were thus carried out in cancer and viral diseases, and IFN-alpha therapy was shown to have a wide range of indications in hematology and dermatology: B-cell malignancies (hairy cell leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma), myeloproliferations (chronic myeloid leukemia, thrombocytosis), cutaneous T lymphoma, basal-cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma. IFN therapy also showed efficacy in viral tumors (condyloma acuminatum and laryngeal papillomatosis) and chronic hepatitis B and C. The antitumoral action of IFN-alpha mainly involves its capacity to inhibit cell proliferation, partly via antagonistic effects on growth factors. The elucidation of IFN-alpha signalling pathway(s) leading to gene activation, a better understanding of the interactions between IFN-alpha and cytokine network, and the development of combination therapy with other biological treatments or chemotherapy should greatly improve the clinical use of IFNs.
 ...
PMID:[Interferons, a class of cytokines with a large therapeutic activity range]. 751 33

Interferons are naturally occurring substances. In fact, interferons are intercellular signalling proteins produced by cells in response to various biological and synthetic stimuli. Three major classes of interferons have been identified: interferons alpha, beta and gamma. Interferons originate from natural sources and are products of recombinant technology. Two forms of recombinant alpha-interferons, 2a and 2b, are available. Alpha-interferons are secreted and synthetised by leucocytes and lymphoblasts. The objective herein is to review the current therapeutic implications of alpha-interferons. Interferons alpha have antiviral, anticancer and immunomodulatory activities. Clinical trials have proved interferons alpha to be of special value as adjuvant therapy (first line drugs) for hairy cell leukemia, virus hepatitis B and C and condylomata acuminata. The efficacy of interferons alpha is now also being evaluated in other malignancies and virus diseases. For instance, interferons alpha are an important advanced modality in the management of chronic myelogenous leukemia and can be considered a first-line therapy option in patients who cannot receive or relapse following allogenic bone marrow transplant. Of course, further research is also required to evaluate combination therapies with interferons alpha and other agents. Presently malignancies have the broadest potential in application of interferons alpha therapy. Hairy cell leukemia responds to interferons alpha in up to 90% of patients, Kaposi's sarcoma, which occurs primarily in association with AIDS, benefit in up to 40% of patents, lymphomas respond in about 65% of patients whereas chronic myelogeneous leukemia in more than 80% of patients in early cases. The uses of interferons alpha in infectious diseases (condylomaty acuminata, rhinovirus infection, protozoal, parasitic and fungal intracellular infections) may also be significant. However, the cost of interferons alpha is too high. This makes interferons alpha a second line therapy, but not in patients where it is more effective than alternative treatment. Interferons alpha are cytokines (intercellular signalling proteins) which have antiviral, anticancer and immunomodulatory activities. Interferons alpha therapy represents an important advanced modality in the management of patients with hematological diseases, malignancies, lymphomas, solid malignant tumours and viral infections. Clinical trials have proved interferons alpha to be of special value as first line drugs for hairy cell leukemia, virus hepatitis B and C and condylomata accuminata. Interferons alpha are used as single primary therapy, adjuvant therapy and maintenance therapy. The limiting factor for the application of interferons alpha is the cost of treatment.
 ...
PMID:[Alpha interferons--new therapeutic modalities]. 961 56

Condyloma acuminata or genital warts are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). Ongoing proliferation of HPV in patients with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency states leads to the development of rapidly progressive and sometimes locally invasive tumor with or without dysplasia. Aggressive treatment, diagnostic immuno-typing, and follow-up are necessary in patients with ongoing immunosuppression. We report a case of giant ano-genital condylomatosis due to HPV types 6 and 11 in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The tumor was successfully treated with surgical excision and local application of 5% imiquimod cream.
 ...
PMID:Giant anal condylomatosis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: a rare complication of human papilloma virus infection. 1751 21