Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0278883 (metastatic melanoma)
 6,224 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

According to experimental data, administration of interferon in mice before contact with antigen reduced antibody response, while its presence after antigen load enhanced them. The aim of this study was to detect possible immunomodulatory effects of unpurified human alpha-interferon on izohemagglutinin (IZO), and anti-Forssman antibody (AFA) serum levels during a treatment in patients with malignant melanoma. Fifty-two patients treated with the same chemotherapy regimen (ADM-VCR-CPM-DTIC-PCB) entered the study; 30 received INF 1.000.000 U/24 h x 10 during each cycle, intercycle interval 4 weeks. Twenty-two did not receive interferon. Initial IZO titers were 1/4-1/256, median 1/64, and for AFA 0-1/14, median 1/7. Following 4 cycles, values for IZO titers were: in the IFN group 1/32-1/262.144, median 1/128; in the non-IFN group range 1/8-1/512, median 1/32. The values for AFA titers were: in the INF group 0-1/442, median between 1/28 and 1/56; in control group 0-1/112, median 1/14. The difference between both median values for the INF group and initial median values was statistically significant. Initial elevation of titers was reversed during a few cycles with both A and B substances and the Forssman antigen, immunisation of humans is permanent. It would be of interest to ascertain effects of interferons on antibody response to others antigens, especially bacterial and viral, during aggressive chemotherapy. In any case, both experimentally observed phenomena seem to occur in vivo during interferon treatment of metastatic melanoma.
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PMID:[The effect of interferon alfa-2b therapy on titers of isohemagglutinins and anti-Forssman antibodies in patients with malignant melanoma]. 759 Apr 7

Vincristine sulfate liposome infusion (VSLI) is a sphingomyelin/cholesterol liposome encapsulated formulation of vincristine that results in an extended drug circulation time and the potential for enhanced malignancy targeting, exposure, and anticancer activity. We assessed the safety and activity of VSLI in patients with metastatic melanoma. VSLI, to provide VCR 2.0 mg/m without dose capping, was infused over 1 h every 2 weeks (one cycle). Safety, tumor response, and survival were determined. Twenty-seven patients with metastatic melanoma of cutaneous (n=19), uveal (n=4), mucosal (n=1), and unknown (n=3) primary were treated. Twenty-five (93%) patients had received one or more prior lines of chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy; 14 (48%) had received a vinblastine-containing regimen. Hematologic adverse events (AEs) primarily manifested as grade 1/2 neutropenia. Nonhematologic AEs primarily consisted of gastrointestinal and constitutional symptoms of grade 1/2 severity. Grade 3 AEs included one case of paresthesia and four cases of constipation. The disease control rate in 26 evaluable patients was 31%. One complete (uveal melanoma metastatic to lung) and two partial responses (previously untreated cutaneous melanoma metastatic to the bone, brain, spleen and lung, and another with melanoma of unknown primary involving the lung, liver, and lymph node) were found. Five patients had stable disease. The median time to progression was 1.9 months. The median survival was 9.6 months with 30% of the patients alive at 1 year. VSLI was generally well tolerated and showed promising antitumor activity against metastatic melanoma and uveal melanoma in particular. A phase 2 trial to further elucidate the efficacy and safety of VSLI in metastatic uveal melanoma is ongoing.
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PMID:A pilot study with vincristine sulfate liposome infusion in patients with metastatic melanoma. 1901 11