Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027497 (nausea)
 23,468 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Biological response modifiers (BRMs) have greatly modified the immunotherapy of tumors. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has brought about metastasis regression in some cases of malignant tumors, however, when given systemically, it results in high toxicity. More recently, the subcutaneous administration of IL-2 (combined with alpha-interferon, alpha-IFN) seems to be capable of offering the same chances of therapeutic response, but this time with a lower level of toxicity. The Authors report an evaluation of toxicity in 22 patients treated with a combination of IL-2 + alpha-IFN i.m. with or without chemotherapy. The side-effects present in the majority of cases were: fever, diarrhea and asthenia. Approximately 50% of the patients had nausea/vomiting, mucositis, skin rashes, and slight leukopenia. The following side-effects were noted to a much lesser degree, thrombocytopenia, alterations in hepatic and dizziness and cystitis. Only one patient reached 4th degree toxicity, with mucositis, asthenia and skin rash. All the other patients received the treatment without suspensions for toxicity. Biological evaluations will enable us to determine in the future, the cases which can benefit from therapeutic intensification and thus it would seem opportune at this time to use therapy with acceptable toxicity.
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PMID:Evaluation of toxicity in 22 patients treated with subcutaneous interleukin-2, alpha-interferon with and without chemotherapy. 128 42

Eleven patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) were treated with YK-176 (2'-deoxycoformycin) at a dose of 5 mg/m2 by intravenous injection every week or every other week. Patients received a median of eight (range 4-19) injections of YK-176. Five patients had previously been untreated, four of whom had massive splenomegaly. Six patients had previously been treated, four with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) or IFN-alpha and chemotherapy and two with prednisolone. Two patients had had splenectomies. Five patients achieved complete remission (CR) and six, partial remission (PR) according to WHO criteria (remission rate 100%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 74-100%). All six neutropenic patients recovered > 1,500/microliters neutrophils, six of seven anemic patients recovered > 12.0 g/dl hemoglobin and five of nine thrombocytopenic patients recovered > 100,000/microliters platelets following the treatment. According to the response criteria for HLC, five patients achieved CR, two PR and four minor response. The overall remission (CR + PR) rate was 64% (95% CI 35-85%). The CR and PR have lasted from > 30 to > 718 days (median, > 281 days) so far with no relapses. Of four patients previously treated with IFN-alpha, two achieved CR and one, PR. All patients were alive with a median survival time of > 290 days from treatment (range > 50- > 763 days). The treatment was generally well tolerated. Mild to moderate nausea, vomiting, appetite loss and general fatigue were experienced in two patients, skin rash in one and a transient fever in three. YK-176 was a highly active agent in the treatment of HCL.
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PMID:Treatment of hairy cell leukemia with deoxycoformycin (YK-176). The Deoxycoformycin (YK-176) Study Group. 129 57

The role of combination chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer is controversial. At best, a small survival benefit can be achieved. Therefore, other treatment modalities are needed. On the basis of the promising treatment results with interleukin-2 (IL-2) -containing immunotherapy in renal cell cancer and melanoma, we performed a phase I-II study with IL-2 and interferon alpha (IFN-alpha). Eligible patients were treated with IL-2 18 x 10(6) IU/m2/day by continuous intravenous infusion (c.i.v.) for 3 days. On the same days, 5 x 10(6) U/m2/day IFN-alpha was given intramuscularly. After a rest period of 4 days, patients at the first dose level received IL-2 2.4 x 10(6) IU/m2/day c.i.v. for a period of 28 days, followed by 14 days' rest, 14 days' treatment, 7 days' rest, and a final treatment for 14 days. Patients at the second dose level were treated according to the same schedule, in which the dose of IL-2 was increased to 3.6 x 10(6) IU/m2/day. During low-dose IL-2 treatment, patients received IFN-alpha 5 x 10(6) U/m2/day on days 1 and 4 of each week. Eleven patients were admitted to the study, six at the first and five at the second dose level. Median age was 54 years; all patients had a performance status of 0 or 1. The most important adverse effects included anorexia, fatigue, nausea, and headache, which were not dose limiting. In the 11 patients treated, no responses were seen. Nine patients developed progressive disease during the first 5 weeks of treatment. We concluded that this regimen of IL-2 and IFN-alpha is ineffective.
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PMID:Interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. 132 67

Nine patients with a recurrent malignant glioma were treated with repeated intracavitary or intracerebroventricular injections of human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) alone or in combination with systemic interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Five patients received only rIL-2 and four were treated with rIL-2 plus subcutaneous injections of IFN-alpha. Therapy was administered on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule for up to 10 weeks, beginning with a dose of 10,000 IU rIL-2/injection. Doses were escalated every two weeks until some toxicity was apparent. The maximum amount of rIL-2 any one patient in this group received was 580,000 IU. Patients on combination immunotherapy were held at an rIL-2 dosage of 10,000 IU while IFN-alpha, which began at 3 million IU, was escalated every other week up to 18 million IU/dose. They were then held at that IFN-alpha dosage and rIL-2 was increased to 50,000 IU. The total amount of rIL-2 and IFN-alpha any one in this group received was 510,000 IU and 417 million IU, respectively. Repeated injections of 10,000 IU rIL-2 were well-tolerated by all nine patients and no change in their functional status was seen. At doses at 50,000 IU rIL-2, increased edema around the tumor cavity was observed by MRI/CT scand in 3/5 patients and clinical side-effects in the form of somnolence and headache along with some morbidity specifically associated with tumor location were also seen. Patients receiving rIL-2+ IFN-alpha showed progressive fatigue, muscle weakness, and occasionally nausea. Two of these patients showed increased peritumoral edema on MRI/CT scan.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Treatment of recurrent malignant glioma by repeated intracerebral injections of human recombinant interleukin-2 alone or in combination with systemic interferon-alpha. Results of a phase I clinical trial. 154 81

Based on promising results with 5-FU/FA or 5-FU/IFN-alpha in colorectal cancer, a pilot study was initiated to evaluate the effects of the combination 5-FU/FA/interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Patients received 9 million units (MU) IFN-alpha subcutaneously three times a week or 6 MU IFN-alpha once a week; 500 mg/m2 5-FU via an intravenous bolus 1 hour after the initiation of a 2-hour infusion of 500 mg/m2 of FA, once a week. Fourteen patients, all previously untreated with chemotherapy, were enrolled; 13 (two females/11 males) were evaluable for response and toxicity (one too early). The median performance status was 80% (range, 60 to 100) and the median age 62 years. Besides the inoperable primary tumor, metastatic sites were liver, lung, and peritoneum. Three of 13 patients had a partial remission, three of 13 patients a minor response, and four of 13 patients no change. Three patients had progressive disease. Until now, no complete remission was seen. Median duration of response was 4+ months; median survival has not been reached yet. Of all patients there were three instances of World Health Organization grade 3 toxicity: fatigue (one of 13), nausea (one of 13), and diarrhea (one of 13); grade 4 toxicity did not occur. Although overall toxicity was moderate, most patients experienced a reduction of well-being. Therefore in all patients the dose of IFN was reduced (from 3 x 9 MU/week to 1 x 6 MU/week). Our preliminary data suggest that biochemical modulation of 5-FU with FA and IFN-alpha (reduced dosage) is effective in pancreatic cancer with moderate toxicity, warranting further study.
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PMID:Combination fluorouracil, folinic acid, and interferon alfa-2a: an active regimen in advanced pancreatic carcinoma. 155 50

A multicentre study of IL2 and IFN alpha has been performed in 58 patients with metastatic melanoma. The scheme consisted of IL2 3.0 BRMP MU/m2/d as a continuous infusion for 4 d combined with subcutaneous administration of IFN alpha 6 MU/m2/d, day 1 + 4. The cycle was repeated every 2 weeks for a maximum duration of 26 weeks. 54 patients were evaluable for response. One (2%) achieved a complete and 10 (19%) a partial response. 19 (35%) patients were stable and 24 (44%) showed progressive disease. Common side-effects included fever, chills, fatigue, skin rash, anorexia, nausea and diarrhoea. Hypothyroidism was noted in 10% of the patients. These results show that this regimen of IL2 and IFN alpha is active but, in contrast to what could be expected, not superior to IL2 alone possibly due to suboptimal dosing. In an ongoing study in Rotterdam and Nijmegen, a more intense schedule was chosen, consisting of three daily i.v. doses of IL2 4.5 BRMP MU/m2 and IFN alpha 3.0 MU/m2 for 5 d. This regimen is repeated at intervals of 3 weeks for a total of three cycles. Presently, nine patients have been entered. One patient achieved a complete response, four a partial response (overall 56%), three had stable disease and one progressed. Toxicity was severe and treatment was prematurely stopped in five patients: myocardial infarction (one patient), atrial fibrillation (one patient), negative T waves and myocardial hypokinesia (one patient) and psychosis (two patients). This regimen can only be justified if the therapeutic results are superb, which has yet to be awaited.
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PMID:Clinical experience with the combined use of recombinant interleukin-2 (IL2) and interferon alfa-2a (IFN alpha) in metastatic melanoma. 193 17

The safety, tolerance, and clinical effects of a home therapy regimen of recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and interferon-alpha 2b (IFN-alpha 2b) self injected subcutaneously have been assessed in 35 patients with advanced cancer refractory to standard therapy. 52 treatment cycles were given, each consisting of a 2-day rIL-2 pulse of 9.0 million IU/m2 every 12 h, followed by 6 weeks of rIL-2 1.8 million IU/m2 twice daily for 5 days per week and of IFN-alpha 2b 5.0 million U/m2 thrice a week. The main adverse effects were fever, chills, nausea, anorexia, and hypotension and were limited to WHO grades of severity I and II in 29 of 35 patients. No treatment-related deaths occurred. The response rates among patients with renal-cell carcinoma were similar to those reported for high-dose intravenous regimens of interleukin-2 that are toxic and have to be given in hospital.
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PMID:Home therapy with recombinant interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha 2b in advanced human malignancies. 197 42

Sixty-two patients with biopsy-proven, measurable disseminated malignant melanoma received either the combination IFN-alpha 2A with BCNU (30 patients) or the combination cimetidine with BCNU (32 patients) in parallel noncomparative Phase II trials. From patients receiving IFN-alpha 2A plus BCNU, we observed a 7% response rate: 1 complete response (CR) and 1 partial response (PR) (soft tissue disease with durations of 6.9 and 11.5+ months, respectively). Median time to progression (MTP) was 1.8 months and median survival time (MST) was 3.8 months. Myelosuppression and a flu-type illness were the most common toxicities. From patients receiving cimetidine plus BCNU, the response rate was 16%: 4 PRs (soft tissue disease, 3.8 months; visceral, 2.1, 4.0+, and 9.7 months) and 1 CR (soft tissue, 14.3+ months). MTP and MST were 1.9 and 5.5 months, respectively. Myelosuppression and nausea/vomiting were the most common side effects. Although each of these regimens had great conceptual allure, neither offered any durable impact on the natural history of disseminated malignant melanoma. Nevertheless, alternative combinations of biological response modifiers (BRMs) and BRMs with biochemical modulators or cytotoxic agents may provide some useful alternatives for further clinical investigations.
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PMID:Phase II trial of recombinant leukocyte A interferon (IFN-alpha 2A) plus 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and the combination cimetidine with BCNU in patients with disseminated malignant melanoma. 202 22

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and beta-interferon (beta-IFN) are cytokines with profound immunobiological effects on T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell activity; IL-2 also induces lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell cytotoxicity in humans. Both lymphokines induce antineoplastic activity against several refractory tumors. This Phase I study of 50 patients assessed the toxicities, maximally tolerated dose (MTD), effects on certain immune effector cells, pharmacokinetics of IL-2, and development of antibodies to the combination of subcutaneously administered IL-2 and intravenously administered beta-IFN. Fever was common. Indomethacin reduced the incidence and severity of fever and was necessary to prevent it from becoming dose-limiting. Hypotension occurred but never required pressors or produced complications. Constitutional symptoms, local skin toxicity at the site of IL-2 injection, generalized desquamation, eosinophilia, nausea, and vomiting were also observed. One patient had reversible renal dysfunction. Two patients experienced drug-related dyspnea without evidence of capillary leak syndrome; neither required intubation. Fluid retention and cardiotoxicity were not observed. The MTD was 5 x 10(6) U/m2 s.c. of IL-2 and 2 x 10(6) U/m2 i.v. of beta-IFN when given in combination. Enhancement of in vivo NK cell cytotoxicity and proliferation of T4+, T8+, and NK cells occurred. In vivo induction of LAK cell cytotoxicity was observed in three patients. Four patients developed nonneutralizing anti-IL-2 IgG antibodies, but none developed antibodies to beta-IFN. Peak IL-2 serum levels typically occurred 4 h following drug administration. Serum levels were within a factor of 3 of the peak level in the period studied, 1-6 h postinjection. No complete responses occurred. One patient with rectal cancer and one with transitional cell carcinoma each had a partial response, and 13 other patients (5 with renal cell, 4 with colorectal, and 4 other cancers) had stable disease. Induction of NK cell cytotoxicity was seen more commonly in patients with stable disease than in those with progressive disease. Combined administration of these agents is feasible with acceptable toxicity, and Phase II trials are warranted.
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PMID:Phase I trial of recombinant interleukin-2 and recombinant beta-interferon in refractory neoplastic diseases. 278 53

Interferon-alpha (IFN-a) or 2'-deoxycoformycin (pentostatin; DCF) have each been shown to be highly active in hairy-cell leukemia (HCL). In this phase II study of the Leukemia Cooperative Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the efficacy and toxicity of DCF were investigated in patients who were resistant to IFN-a treatment. Resistance was defined as: (1) progressive disease (PD) under IFN-a therapy for more than 2 months; (2) stable disease (SD) after more than 6 months of IFN-a treatment; (3) relapse within 3 months of discontinuing IFN-a; and (4) intolerance to IFN-a because of World Health Organization (WHO) grade 3 or 4 toxicity. DCF was applied at a dosage of 4 mg/m2 weekly x 3, then 4 mg/m2 every other week x 3. Responders were given a maintenance therapy once per month for a maximum of 6 months. At the time of report, 33 patients with resistant disease were evaluable for response and toxicity. Median duration of IFN-a therapy before DCF administration was 14.7 months (range, 1 to 41 months). Complete remissions (CRs) were achieved in 11 patients and partial remissions (PRs) in 15, resulting in a total response rate of 78.8%. Median interval between beginning of DCF therapy to best response was 3.9 months with a range from 2.0 to 7.0 months. Two patients who achieved PR have relapsed 7 and 14 months after cessation of DCF therapy. The median duration of response was over 11.5 months (range, over 3.0 to over 24.0 months). Three patients died within the first 6 weeks of DCF treatment: one of drug-unrelated cardiomyopathy and two of fungal pneumonia. The patients with early death (n = 3) and nonresponsive disease (n = 4) received IFN-a treatment for a longer period (median, 18.0 months) than did the 26 responsive patients (median, 10.0 months). Major side effects included nausea, skin rash, and infections and were otherwise mild. Thus, DCF is highly active in patients with HCL resistant to IFN-a.
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PMID:Response to pentostatin in hairy-cell leukemia refractory to interferon-alpha. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Leukemia Cooperative Group. 278 73


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