Document 0024
 DOCN  M9650024
 TI    Immunological alterations induced by adjuvant treatment of postoperative
       colon carcinoma Duke's B or C with levamisole in combination with 5-FU.
 DT    9605
 AU    De Brabander M; Vandebroek J; Wassenaar H; De Cree J; Baisier A; Demoen
       B; De Ridder R; Jagers E; Roels V; Vogels O; et al; Clinical Research
       Unit St. Bartholomeus, Jan Palftjn Hospital,; Merksem, Belgium.
 SO    Anticancer Res. 1995 Sep-Oct;15(5B):2271-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96152477
 AB    BACKGROUND: Postoperative 5-FU combined with levamisole increases 5 year
       survival in colon cancer patients (Duke C) by 30% (1). In order to
       investigate the potential immunological mechanism, we determined
       lymphocyte subtypes and markers of immune activation in 22 patients
       before and during one year of postoperative adjuvant treatment. METHODS:
       Before and regularly during treatment, according to the scheme described
       by Moertel (1), major lymphocyte subsets were quantified by flow
       cytometry. Serum neopterin, soluble IL2-receptors, beta 2-microglobulin,
       TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma were determined by Elisa. RESULTS: The
       CD4/CD8 ratio increased significantly after levamisole was added to the
       treatment, as did the levels of soluble IL2-receptors. The percentages
       of T-cells expressing the interleukin 2 receptor followed a similar
       trend. The levels of neopterin tended to decrease during the combined
       treatment course. This was paralleled by a progressive fall in the
       proportion of T-cells expressing HLA-DR. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment
       induced significant and consistent alterations in major immunological
       mediators and lymphocyte subtypes. It remains to be established whether
       these changes are related to the therapeutic effect.
 DE    Adjuvants, Immunologic/*ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE  Aged  Aged, 80 and over
       Antigens, CD45/ANALYSIS  Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/*THERAPEUTIC
       USE  Chemotherapy, Adjuvant  Colonic Neoplasms/*DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY
       CD4-CD8 Ratio/DRUG EFFECTS  Female  Fluorouracil/*ADMINISTRATION &
       DOSAGE  Human  Levamisole/*ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE  Male  Middle Age
       Receptors, Interleukin-2/ANALYSIS  T-Lymphocytes/DRUG EFFECTS  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).