Phase I trial of recombinant interferon gamma in cancer patients Journal Article
| Authors: | Vadhan-Raj, S.; Al-Katib, A.; Bhalla, R.; Pelus, L.; Nathan, C. F.; Sherwin, S. A.; Oettgen, H. F.; Krown, S. E. |
| Article Title: | Phase I trial of recombinant interferon gamma in cancer patients |
| Abstract: | Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is a lymphokine with potent in vitro effects on cell growth and immune function. We have investigated the effects of rIFN-γ (sp act ~ 2 x 107 U/mg, purity > 99%) in 16 evaluable patients with advanced malignancy in a phase I trial. Patients were treated with six-hour intravenous (IV) infusions daily, five days a week for 2 weeks. After a 2-week rest period, the IV treatment cycle was repeated. Responders were maintained on repeated IV treatment cycles or daily intramuscular (IM) injections. Patients were entered at fixed dose levels of 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/m2/d. The maximum safely tolerated dose was 0.5 mg/m2. The most common side effects were constitutional symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, and myalgias. Reversible and transient increases in hepatic transaminase and decrease in granulocyte counts were seen. Treatment was associated with a dose-dependent increase in serum levels of β2 microglobulin. Partial responses (PRs) were observed in one patient with Hodgkin's disease and one patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Fairly constant levels of serum IFN were found at four and six hours during infusion, followed by a rapid decline within one to two hours. We conclude that rIFN-γ can be safely administered by a six-hour IV infusion and that it can induce in vivo some of the biologic effects reported in in vitro studies. |
| Keywords: | clinical article; fatigue; interferon; drug efficacy; side effect; cancer immunotherapy; leukopenia; myalgia; hodgkin disease; alanine aminotransferase blood level; aspartate aminotransferase blood level; chill; fever; lymphatic system; recombinant gamma interferon; paracetamol; drug dose; drug blood level; phase 1 clinical trial; drug therapy; chronic lymphatic leukemia; adverse drug reaction; therapy; intravenous drug administration; diphenhydramine; intramuscular drug administration; cancer; human; priority journal; blood and hemopoietic system |
| Journal Title: | Journal of Clinical Oncology |
| Volume: | 4 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| ISSN: | 0732-183X |
| Publisher: | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| Date Published: | 1986-02-01 |
| Start Page: | 137 |
| End Page: | 146 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1200/jco.1986.4.2.137 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PUBMED: | 3080551 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Export Date: 18 August 2021 -- Source: Scopus |
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