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Biomedical subjects

A Macciò

Publications and source records attributed to A Macciò.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Long-term results after lymphatic-venous anastomoses for the treatment of obstructive lymphedema.

Over the past 25 years, 665 patients with obstructive lymphedema have been treated with microsurgical lymphatic-venous anastomoses; of these, 446 patients were available for long-term follow-up study. Objective assessment was undertaken by water volumetry and lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphangioscintigraphy, lymphangiography (in patients with gravitational reflux pathology), and echo-Doppler were used preoperatively. Subjective improvement was noted in 578 patients (87%). Objectively, volume changes showed a significant improvement in 552 patients (83%), with an average reduction of 67% of the excess volume. Of those patients followed up, 379 patients (85%) have been able to discontinue the use of conservative measures, with an average follow-up of more than 7 years and average reduction in excess volume of 69%. There was a 87% reduction in the incidence of cellulitis after microsurgery. In those patients who improved, drainage resulted in increased softness of the limbs. Peripheral edema (hand and foot) diminished considerably in most patients. These long-term results indicate that lymphatic-venous anastomoses have a place in the treatment of obstructive lymphedema and should be the therapy of choice in patients who are not sufficiently responsive to nonsurgical treatment. Improved results can be expected with earlier operations because patients referred earlier usually have fewer lymphatic alterations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Serum values of proinflammatory cytokines are inversely correlated with serum leptin levels in patients with advanced stage cancer at different sites.

Leptin is a recently identified hormone produced by the adipocyte ob gene which acts as a negative feedback signal critical to the normal control of food intake and body weight. A number of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma, have been proposed as mediators of cancer cachexia; these data suggest that abnormalities in leptin production/release or in its feedback mechanism play a role in cancer patients. We therefore studied the relationship between serum leptin and serum cytokines interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in advanced-stage cancer patients. Twenty-nine advanced stage cancer patients (all but one stage IV) with tumors at various sites were included in the study. A direct correlation between body mass index and serum leptin levels was found both in cancer patients and in healthy individuals. The serum levels of interleukin 6 were significantly higher in cancer patients than in healthy individuals. In cancer patients an inverse correlation was found between serum levels of leptin and proinflammatory cytokines. There was an inverse correlation between the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scale and serum levels of leptin. Regarding survival, patients with very high serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and very low levels of leptin had very short survival. Although obtained in a cancer patient population not overtly cachectic, our results provide further evidence that a simple dysregulation of leptin production and/or release cannot be involved in cancer-associated pathophysiological changes leading to cachexia.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Managing cancer-related anorexia/cachexia.

Cancer-related anorexia/cachexia (CAC) is a complex phenomenon in which metabolic abnormalities, proinflammatory cytokines produced by the host immune system, circulating tumour-derived catabolic factors, decreased food intake, and probably additional unknown factors, all play different roles. This review examines the mechanisms of CAC and its management. All the potential modalities of intervention from nutritional to pharmacological approaches are included with a clear distinction between unproven, investigational and well established treatments. Among the latter, the progestogens are currently considered the most effective and safest drugs for the management of CAC. Agents currently under investigation for CAC include thalidomide, pentoxifylline and melatonin, which most probably act on cytokine release, and clenbuterol, which acts on muscle mass and to antagonise protein wasting. Our personal experience with the synthetic progestogens megestrol and medroxyprogesterone supports their use as first-line agents. In addition, our work on the potential role of antioxidant agents in counteracting the oxidative stress, which appears to be involved in CAC, shows them to be promising agents when used in combination chemotherapy regimens either alone or with other 'biologics'. There is an ongoing need for quality of life questionnaires which specifically address the most significant symptoms present in patients with CAC.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2000

Restoration of functional defects in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from cancer patients by thiol antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid and N-acetyl cysteine.

The ability of Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), two active antioxidant agents, to correct in vitro the most significant functional defects of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from advanced stage cancer patients was studied. The proliferative response of PBMC isolated from cancer patients to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MAb) and the expression of CD25 (IL-2R) and CD95 (Fas) on unstimulated and anti-CD3 MAb-stimulated PBMC were studied, and the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, TNFalpha as markers of pro-cachectic activity in cancer patients, and the serum levels of IL-2 and sIL-2R were assessed. Twenty patients (mean age 64.6 years) with cancer of lung, ovary, endometrium, and head and neck, all in advanced (III, IV) stage of disease, were studied. The serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNFalpha, and sIL-2R were significantly higher in cancer patients than in normal subjects. The response of PBMC isolated from cancer patients to anti-CD3 MAb was significantly lower than that of controls. The addition of either ALA 0.001 mM or NAC 0.004 mM in the PBMC cultures stimulated with anti-CD3 MAb significantly increased the response of PBMC isolated from cancer patients and normal subjects. After 24 and 72 hr of culture with anti-CD3 MAb, the expression of CD25 and CD95 on PBMC isolated from cancer patients was significantly lower than that of PBMC isolated from normal subjects. The addition of either ALA or NAC into cultures of PBMC isolated from cancer patients significantly increased the percentage of cells expressing CD25 as well as those expressing CD95. The results of the present study show a favorable effect of antioxidant agents ALA and NAC on several important T-cell functions in vitro in advanced-stage cancer patients.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed2000

Serum levels of leptin and proinflammatory cytokines in patients with advanced-stage cancer at different sites.

Leptin is a recently identified hormone produced by the adipocyte ob gene which acts as a negative feedback signal critical to the normal control of food intake and body weight. A number of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL) 1alpha, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and interferon (IFN) gamma, have been proposed as mediators of cancer cachexia. These data suggest that abnormalities in leptin production/release or in its feedback mechanism play a role in cancer patients. To elucidate this we studied the relationship between total serum leptin and serum cytokines IL-1alpha, IL-6, TNFalpha as well as the production of leptin and cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from cancer patients. Sixteen advanced cancer patients (mainly stage IV) with tumors at different sites were included in the study. The serum levels of leptin in cancer patients were significantly lower than those of healthy individuals at all times (7 a.m., noon, 3 p.m.). No significant differences were found in circadian rhythm between patients and controls. Serum levels of IL-1alpha, IL-6, and TNFalpha were significantly higher in cancer patients than in healthy individuals. An inverse correlation between serum levels of leptin and IL-6 was found in cancer patients. The production in culture of leptin by unstimulated PBMCs and those stimulated by phytohemagglutinin M or by phorbol myristate acetate isolated from cancer patients was very low; no differences were observed in comparison with leptin production by PBMCs from healthy individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

High serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor, cytokines, and C reactive protein correlate with impairment of T cell response in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

The serum levels of interleukin-(IL-)1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF alpha, and sIL-2R and the proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2), and the combination of PHA or anti-CD3 mAb with rIL-2 were studied and correlated with serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. The expression of CD25 and CD122 subunities of membrane-bound IL-2R on PHA- or anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated PBMC was also studied. In comparisons with the controls, PBMC response to PHA, anti-CD3 mAb, and rIL-2 was significantly lower in the cancer patients. The addition of exogenous rIL-2 to the PBMC cultures increased response in both controls and patients but did not modify the significance of the differences. After stimulation with PHA or anti-CD3 mAb, the percentage of PBMC CD25+ or CD122+ was significantly lower in patients. The serum levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF alpha, sIL-2R, and CRP were significantly increased in patients compared to the controls. Instead, no differences were observed for serum levels of IL-2. A strong association was found between high serum levels of the above-mentioned cytokines, sIL-2R, and CRP. The results of our study on advanced stage (IIIb-IV) ovarian cancer patients are consistent with the previously reported hypothesis that high IL-6 and/or CRP serum levels may represent an important and independent prognostic factor of the likely outcome in cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cytokine involvement in cancer anorexia/cachexia: role of megestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate on cytokine downregulation and improvement of clinical symptoms.

The characteristic clinical picture of anorexia, tissue wasting, loss of body weight accompanied by a decrease in muscle mass and adipose tissue, and poor performance status that often precedes death has been named the cancer-related anorexia/cachexia syndrome (CACS). Chronic administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) either alone or in combination, is capable of reproducing the different features of CACS. High serum levels of these cytokines have been found in cancer patients, which seem to correlate with progression of the tumor. This paper describes a series of experimental and clinical studies demonstrating that: (1) high serum levels of some cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, and TNF, are present in advanced-stage cancer patients, particularly those with CACS; (2) megestrol acetate (MA) has a beneficial therapeutic effect on CACS symptoms, such as appetite, body weight, and quality-of-life; (3) MA downregulates the synthesis and release of cytokines and relieves the symptoms of CACS; (4) cytokines play a key role in the onset of CACS; (5) medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) reduces the in vitro production of cytokines and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of cancer patients; and (6) MA and MPA reduce the cisplatin-induced 5-HT release in vitro from PBMC of cancer patients. Based on these results, a clinical study incorporating MA/MPA in combination with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy may be warranted.

Anorexia↗
PubMed1998

Cytokine activity in cancer-related anorexia/cachexia: role of megestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate.

The characteristic clinical picture of anorexia, tissue wasting, loss of body weight accompanied by a decrease in muscle mass and adipose tissue, and poor performance status that often precedes death has been named the cancer-related anorexia/cachexia syndrome (CACS). Chronic administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-I (IL-I), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), either alone or in combination, is capable of reproducing the different features of CACS. High serum levels of these cytokines have been found in cancer patients, which seem to correlate with progression of the tumor. This article describes a series of experimental and clinical studies demonstrating that: (1) high serum levels of some cytokines, including IL-I, IL-6, and TNF, are present in advanced-stage cancer patients, particularly those with CACS; (2) megestrol acetate (MA) has a beneficial therapeutic effect on CACS symptoms, such as appetite, body weight, and quality of life; (3) MA downregulates the synthesis and release of cytokines and relieves the symptoms of CACS; (4) cytokines play a key role in the onset of CACS; (5) medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) reduces the in vitro production of cytokines and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of cancer patients; and (6) MA and MPA reduce the cisplatin-induced 5-HT release in vitro from PBMC of cancer patients. Based on these results, a clinical study incorporating MA/MPA in combination with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy may be warranted. In addition, it has been recently shown that "oxidative stress" resulting from reactive oxygen species, which can be induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, is involved in tissue wasting and CACS. These results suggest promising approaches for the prevention and treatment of cytokine-induced CACS based on MA, MPA, and metabolic antioxidants.

Anorexia↗
PubMed1997

Tumor-associated lympho-monocytes from neoplastic effusions are immunologically defective in comparison with patient autologous PBMCs but are capable of releasing high amounts of various cytokines.

We studied several in vitro activities of tumor-associated lympho-monocytes (TALMs) and the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, interferon (IFN)gamma and soluble IL-2 receptor (slL-2R) in neoplastic effusions and in the serum of advanced stage cancer patients. Comparisons were made with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Autologous PBMCs were compared with PBMCs from normal subjects used as controls. TALMs were collected from 13 peritoneal and 18 pleural neoplastic effusions, secondary to primary tumors of different sites. After PHA stimulation, concentrations of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and TNF alpha in culture media of TALMs both from peritoneal and pleural effusions were lower than those of autologous PBMCs and, similarly, concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 in culture media of TALMs from peritoneal effusions were lower than those of autologous PBMCs, whereas concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 in culture media of TALMs from pleural effusions were in the same range as those of autologous PBMCs. On the contrary, IL-2, IL-6 and IFN gamma amounts (only from pleural effusions) were significantly higher. IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF alpha production from patient PBMCs was lower than that of control PBMCs, whereas production of IL-4, IL-10 and IFN gamma was higher than that of control PBMCs. Both in peritoneal and in pleural effusions concentrations of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-4 were not different from those measured in autologous serum, whereas those of IL-6, IL-10, TNF alpha, IFN gamma and sIL-2R were significantly higher. The amounts of IL-2 in pleural effusions were not different from those of autologous serum, but in peritoneal effusions they were higher than those of autologous serum. The amounts of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF alpha and sIL-2R were higher in patient than in control sera, whereas those of IL-4, IL-10 and IFN gamma were in the same range in patient and in control sera. Cell cycle analysis of cultured TALMs and PBMCs (from 3 patients) showed a significant accumulation of TALMs in the non-cycling G0/G1 cell population compared with autologous PBMCs.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Medroxyprogesterone acetate reduces the in vitro production of cytokines and serotonin involved in anorexia/cachexia and emesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cancer patients.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is widely used in oncology both in the treatment of hormone-related cancers and as supportive therapy in anorexia/cachexia syndrome (ACS), but conclusive data are not yet available to explain its anticachectic effect. ACS is characterised by weight loss, changes in metabolism, reduction of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Several cytokines, mainly interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), are involved in the pathogenesis of ACS. Additionally, nausea and vomiting can be mediated by factors inducing serotonin (5-HT) production and/or release by pleiotropic cells including activated T lymphocytes. In the present study, we report the effect of MPA on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 10 cancer patients in advanced stage of disease (6 head and neck, 2 colon, 1 lung and 1 ovary). The proliferative response of PBMC to PHA, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MAb) or recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2), the production of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF alpha and 5-HT by PHA-stimulated PBMC and the expression of lymphocyte membrane-bound IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) subunities (CD25 and CD122) were studied. The addition of MPA significantly reduced the PBMC proliferative response to PHA and anti-CD3 MAb but not to rIL-2. MPA 0.2 microgram/ml was also capable of reducing the levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF alpha and 5-HT produced in culture by PHA-stimulated PBMC, whereas it did not induce any change in the percentage of PBMC expressing either CD25 or CD122 or both molecules after stimulation with PHA or anti-CD3 mAb.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of granisetron, ondansetron, and tropisetron in the prophylaxis of acute nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin for the treatment of head and neck cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A single-institution, prospective, randomized, open controlled trial was carried out on head and neck cancer patients to compare granisetron (GRA), ondansetron (OND), and tropisetron (TRO) in the prevention of cisplatin-induced acute nausea and vomiting. All patients were chemotherapy-naive and treated with cisplatin on Day 1 (80 to 100 mg/m2). METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients were treated for a total of 463 cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and randomized to receive 24 mg of OND intravenously (i.v.), 3 mg of GRA i.v., or 5 mg of TRO i.v. for the control of acute nausea and emesis. RESULTS: In the GRA group, complete response (CR) was obtained in 119 of 165 cycles (72.1%), major response (MR) in 32 cycles (19.4%), minor response (MiR) in 5 cycles (3%), and a failure (F) in 9 cycles (5.5%). In the OND group, CR was obtained in 110 of 150 cycles (73.3%), MR in 31 cycles (20.7%), MiR in 2 cycles (1.3%), and F in 7 cycles (4.7%). In the TRO group, CR was obtained in 100 of 148 cycles (67.6%), MR in 26 cycles (17.6%), MiR in 15 cycles (10.1%), and F in 7 cycles (4.7%). Major efficacy (CR + MR) was obtained in 151 of 165 cycles (91.5%) for GRA, in 141 of 150 cycles (94.0%) for OND, and in 126 of 148 cycles (85.2%) for TRO. The difference in major efficacy between OND and TRO was statistically significant. When comparing MiR, both GRA and OND were more effective than TRO. No other significant differences were observed among the three antiemetic agents. CONCLUSIONS: Although our results were achieved in an open trial, they show that GRA and OND are equally effective antiemetic agents in the prevention of cisplatin induced acute nausea and vomiting. TRO provides almost the same protection but is not as effective as OND for major efficacy. All three antiemetics can be administered safely to patients undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin at doses of 80 mg/m2 or more.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Evidence that cisplatin induces serotonin release from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and that methylprednisolone inhibits this effect.

Corticosteroids counteract cisplatin (CDDP)-induced acute emesis but the mechanism involved is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify whether CDDP can induce serotonin (5HT) release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and determine whether methylprednisolone (MP) can inhibit such release. Blood from 10 healthy volunteers was used. Our study showed that CDDP did induce 5HT release from PBMC dose-dependently (10 +/- 1 nM for controls, 18 +/- 4 nM for CDDP 0.01 microgram and 30 +/- 4 nM for CDDP 0.1 microgram, P < 0.001) and that the addition of MP to cultures of PBMC in the presence of CDDP induced a significant decrease of 5HT concentrations. Our results highlight a new mechanism through which CDDP could induce emesis and suggest a further mechanism by which corticosteroids mediate their anti-emetic effect.

Antiemetics↗
PubMed1995

Tumor-associated lymphocytes (TAL) are competent to produce higher levels of cytokines in neoplastic pleural and peritoneal effusions than those found in sera and are able to release into culture higher levels of IL-2 and IL-6 than those released by PBMC.

This work was designed to study the proliferative response of tumor-associated lymphocytes (TAL) from neoplastic effusions against autologous tumor cells and the immunophenotype pattern of TAL from neoplastic effusions and that of PBMC of the same patients. We also compared the serum levels of the cytokines interleukin (IL) 1 beta, 2 and 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) with those present in neoplastic effusions of the same patients. Moreover, we examined the ability of TAL and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to produce and release the cytokines and sIL-2R and to express membrane CD25 following their stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro. Finally, we compared the cytokines/sIL-2R production and membrane CD25 expression by PHA-stimulated PBMC of the patients with neoplastic effusions with a series of 90 cancer patients without neoplastic effusions and 20 normal healthy subjects. Thirteen neoplastic pleural and eight peritoneal effusions were collected from 11 patients with primary lung cancer, 7 with primary epithelial ovarian cancer, 1 with breast cancer, 1 with pleural mesothelioma, and 1 with pancreatic cancer. The proliferative response of TAL from neoplastic effusions against autologous tumor cells was lower than the response to PHA, IL-2, and anti-CD3, but significant. The percentage distribution of CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subpopulations was higher in peritoneal than in pleural effusions, while the CD16+ subset was higher in pleural than in peritoneal effusions. The percentage distribution of CD16+ was significantly lower in pleural effusions than in PBMC of patients with pleural effusions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Megestrol acetate in neoplastic anorexia/cachexia: clinical evaluation and comparison with cytokine levels in patients with head and neck carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The aim of our study (clinical phase II open pilot study) was to evaluate the toxicity of megestrol acetate and its ability to increase appetite and body weight in patients with advanced-stage (III-IV) primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant (primary) chemotherapy. Serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha and beta, interleukin-2 and 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and the soluble receptor for interleukin-2 were evaluated before and after megestrol acetate treatment. The same cytokines and soluble interleukin-2 receptor were also measured in culture medium of peripheral blood lymphocytes from the same patients after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. From April 1993 to February 1994, 11 male patients were enrolled in our study: their mean age was 57.8 years (range 43-69 years). Megestrol acetate was administered at a dose of 320 mg/day in the interval between chemotherapeutic cycles for a total of three consecutive cycles; 9 of the 11 patients could be evaluated (81.8%). Except for the performance status according to Karnofsky, all parameters were increased after megestrol acetate treatment. The average weight increased by 6.3 kg (13.2%), appetite by a score of 2.4 (38.6%) and the Spitzer's quality of life index by a score of 2.4 (36.2%). The performance status according to Karnofsky decreased in only 1 patient, remained the same in most patients, and in 2 patients was slightly improved. No significant side effects were observed during treatment. Serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha and beta, interleukin-2 and 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor were significantly higher than in normal subjects, prior to treatment with megestrol acetate. These levels dropped after megestrol acetate treatment with a statistically significant decrease for interleukin-1 alpha and beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. There were no significant differences in the production of cytokines by peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin from patients before megestrol acetate treatment and normal subjects, with the exception of interleukin-6 (higher in patients) and of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (lower in patients). There was no significant difference in the cytokines and soluble interleukin-2 receptor produced in culture before and after megestrol acetate treatment, except for interleukin-6 which decreased after treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Membrane-bound/soluble IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) and levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-2, and IL-6 in the serum and in the PBMC culture supernatants from 17 patients with hematological malignancies.

The present study investigated the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) blastic responses to PHA, PHA plus recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) and rIL-2 alone; the expression of membrane-bound IL-2R on PHA-stimulated PBMC; and the levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-6, and sIL-2R in serum and in culture supernatants from PHA-stimulated PBMC in 17 patients with with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 4 with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), 5 with Hairy cell leukemia, 1 with chronic myelogenous leukemia, and 1 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The patients with HL and NHL with active disease (AD) were separated from those in clinical remission. The patients with AD were studied at diagnosis (obviously before therapy) and the patients in clinical remission were out of therapy since at least 6 mo. The lymphocyte blastogenic response to PHA was significantly lower in patients with HL and NHL with AD than in the control group. The response to rIL-2 alone was in the same range in the control group and in HL and NHL AD patients. By adding rIL-2 to PHA there was an increase of the blastogenic response of the same patients. The percentage of CD25 expressed on PHA-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with HL and NHL AD and from normal subjects is in the same range. Serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, and sIL-2R were significantly higher in HL and NHL AD patients than in controls as well as in all other hematological malignancies. Supernatants derived from PHA-stimulated PBMC were assessed for the presence of cytokines and sIL-2R by ELISA. The levels of IL-2, IL-6, and sIL-2R were significantly lower in HL and NHL AD patients than in controls as well as in all other hematological malignancies.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Primary T cell CD30-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma associated with adult-onset celiac disease and presenting with skin lesions.

We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with primary CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma of T cell phenotype with skin involvement, stage IVB, fulfilling almost all the clinical, histopathologic and immunophenotypic criteria for this disease, associated with adult-onset celiac disease. The diagnoses of malignancy and celiac disease were made during the same clinical episode. The clinical course of the patient has been extremely favorable and she is in complete remission, 15 months after finishing consolidation therapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1995

[The immunological assessment of a combined therapeutic approach (chemo- + radiotherapy +/- surgery) including immunotherapy in neoplasms of the head and neck area at an advanced stage].

Fourty-eight patients entered the study, 37 of whom were evaluable, who underwent a nonrandomized combined modality approach plus a randomized immunotherapy treatment assigning the patients to one of the three arms: 1) thymostimulin, 2) beta IFN, 3) thymostimulin + beta IFN. The patients enrollment started in May 1991 and was closed in February 1993: the final evaluation was in February 1994. An immunological evaluation was made for all patients enrolled. The immunological assessment confirms some previous reports, such as the defective proliferative response of PBMC, the high serum level and the low production in culture of soluble IL 2 receptor (s IL 2 R), the low serum level and the low production of IL 2, and moreover shows new data. It is noteworthy that the significant increases--especially for cytokines and s IL 2 R, except for IL 1 alpha which has decreased, both for serum levels and for culture production--are induced by treatment with beta IFN (or with thymostimulin + beta IFN), suggesting that beta IFn is the immunologically effective moiety.

Adult↗