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Biomedical subjects

E C Borden

Publications and source records attributed to E C Borden.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Interferon alfa combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Interferon alfa has been found to be effective as an antitumor agent (with a response rate of 30 percent) in patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but its effectiveness in those with intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been less adequately tested. In a prospective randomized study we evaluated the effectiveness of adding interferon alfa to cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with clinically aggressive, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and certain histologic variants of intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, not including diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. METHODS: The patients were randomly assigned to a regimen of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and doxorubicin or to this regimen combined with recombinant interferon alfa. Treatment was administered every four weeks, for 8 to 10 cycles. RESULTS: The two regimens produced comparable objective responses, but the regimen including interferon had a greater effect in prolonging the time to treatment failure (P < 0.001) and the duration of complete response (P = 0.03). Interferon alfa also had a greater effect on overall survival (P = 0.014) when the results were adjusted for important covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Interferon alfa, when added to a four-drug doxorubicin-based chemotherapy regimen, is an effective antitumor agent in patients with clinically aggressive low-grade or intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of murine tumor growth by an interferon-inducing imidazoquinolinamine.

The low-molecular-weight imidazoquinolinamine derivative, 1-(2-methylpropyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine (imiquimod, previously described as R-837), induced alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) in mice. IFN induction was identified at oral doses as low as 3 mg/kg. The 10% lethal dose for daily treatment with imiquimod was 200 mg/kg. Oral treatment with 30 mg/kg imiquimod once every three days significantly inhibited MC-26 colon carcinoma. Delay of treatment from day 1 to day 5, when tumors were easily palpable, did not reduce benefits. Ten daily treatments were slightly more effective than five. However, delivery of the same total dose of imiquimod either once every day for 20 days, once every 4 days, once every 7 days, or once every 10 days inhibited tumor growth to the same level. The antitumor effects of imiquimod were significantly abrogated by an antiserum to murine IFN-alpha, suggesting that the antitumor effect was to a substantial extent mediated by IFN induction. Imiquimod also significantly reduced the number of lung colonies in mice inoculated i.v. with MC-26 tumor cells. Combination of treatment with imiquimod and cyclophosphamide was significantly (P less than 0.01) better than treatment with either drug alone. Combination treatment with cyclophosphamide led to cures in some of the mice inoculated either s.c. or i.v. with MC-26 cells. Treatment with imiquimod also inhibited the growth of RIF-1 sarcoma and Lewis lung carcinoma but was ineffective for P388 leukemia. Imiquimod is an oral IFN-alpha inducer with antitumor effectiveness for transplantable murine tumors.

Aminoquinolines↗
PubMed1992

An extended phase II trial of ifosfamide plus mesna in malignant mesothelioma.

Forty three patients with histologically confirmed malignant mesothelioma were entered onto an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group phase II study of ifosfamide given with mesna. Eligibility criteria included adequate performance status, hemogram and renal functions. Ifosfamide was given at 1.5 g/m2 in 200 ml of normal saline over 30 minutes by intravenous infusion on days 1 to 5 of each 21 day cycle. Mesna was given at 300 mg/m2 on each day of ifosfamide at 0, 4 and 8 hours. Two patients were cancelled and one patient was ineligible. The most common toxicity was haematologic. More than 50% of the patients had at least one episode of severe or life threatening toxicity and 2 patients had lethal toxicity (1 renal and 1 pulmonary oedema attributed to treatment), and an additional 4 patients died while on study (2 of cardiac and 2 of cerebral vascular disease not considered directly related to treatment). Of the 40 eligible patients one was unevaluable for response, and one patient had a partial response lasting 6.3 months. Twenty four patients had a no change status with a median duration of 5 months. The median time to treatment failure for all eligible patients was 2.5 months. The median overall survival time (from registration) for all eligible patients was 6.9 months. In multi variable models, factors that predicted for a statistically significant poorer survival were age > or = 62, stage > or = 3, performance status poorer than 0 to 1 and prior surgery (i.e.: more than biopsy).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Drug Administration Schedule↗
PubMed1992

Interferons: pleiotropic cellular modulators.

Interferons play a key role in host response as pleiotropic modulators of cell function. As induced proteins, interferons contrast with other physiologic regulators such as glucocorticoids which are produced relatively continuously. Antitumor effects have been suggested to be principally the result of two mechanisms: a direct effect on the functional capacity or antigenic composition of tumor cells or an indirect effect on modulation of immunological effector cell populations with tumor specificities. Over the past decade, interferons have been established as therapeutically useful molecules for malignant and viral diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Absence of biological effects of orally administered interferon-beta ser.

To assess biological effectiveness of interferon (IFN) administered orally, we measured serum IFN and several proteins and metabolites induced by IFN after oral administration of 2.5 mg or 7.5 mg of recombinant IFN-beta ser to 6 healthy volunteers. These IFN-induced metabolites, beta 2-microglobulin, and neopterin in serum, and 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, are more sensitive to the presence of IFN than bioassay of IFN in serum. Up to 48 h after oral IFN was administered, serum IFN, beta 2-microglobulin, neopterin, or 2-5A synthetase were not generally increased compared to pretreatment levels, indicating that oral IFN had no significant biological effects.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1992

Phase II trials of interferons-alpha and -beta in advanced sarcomas.

Interferons (IFNs)-alpha and -beta were administered to patients with metastatic sarcomas in two different Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group studies. In one study, patients received IFN-alpha 2b, 20 million units/m2 i.v. 5 days/week x 4, then 10 million units s.c.t.i.w. In the second study, patients received IFN-beta ser 180 million units t.i.w. Of 87 patients evaluable for response, there were three responses in 64 patients (5%) treated with IFN-alpha-2b and no responses in 23 patients treated with IFN-beta ser. Severe or life-threatening fatigue with decline in performance status complicated treatment of 37% of patients receiving IFN-alpha 2b and 17% of patients receiving IFN-beta ser. Further investigation of IFNs in sarcomas should depend on evidence from preclinical studies demonstrating synergistic effects of IFNs combined with a cytoreductive modality which has proven activity in these malignancies.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Modulation of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in patients treated with alpha-interferon: effects of dose, schedule, and route of administration.

The interferon (IFN)-induced intracellular enzyme 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase was measured in extracts of peripheral mononuclear cells isolated from patients receiving a 300-fold range of doses of alpha interferon (IFN-alpha). The range of enzyme induction was 2.3- to 5.7-fold. The maximum fold increase varied from individual to individual as did the dose required for maximum enzyme stimulation. The magnitude and endurance of the enzyme response was a function of IFN dose and was unrelated to the duration of treatment or number of injections or to the route of administration. The enzyme assay was a more sensitive indicator of IFN administration than was measurement of the level of circulating IFN. These results substantiate the potential of a clinical 2-5A synthetase assay for monitoring IFN treatment.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1992

The effect of interferon on the metabolism of LDLs.

Interferons have been shown to lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations by 20-50%. To evaluate the effect of interferons on LDL metabolic behavior in individuals with normal and mildly elevated LDL cholesterol levels, autologous LDL labeled with 125I was administered to subjects at baseline and during interferon treatment. Interferon beta serine (IFN-beta serine) was administered intravenously at 4.5 x 10(6) units daily for at least 3 weeks before the start of kinetic study and continued for an additional 2 weeks. Results were analyzed by using a multicompartmental model that allows for two intravascular LDL compartments. In normal subjects, IFN-beta serine reduced LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) B levels by 25% and 27%, respectively (p less than 0.05); LDL apo B synthesis was decreased by 59% (p less than 0.05). In hypercholesterolemic subjects, IFN-beta serine reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 38% (p less than 0.05); however, apo B concentrations and production rates were not significantly decreased. Clearance of LDL from the first intravascular apo B pool was markedly reduced in these subjects, resulting in a shift in the distribution of LDL apo B from the second to the first intravascular LDL apo B pool. We conclude that interferon's actions on LDL metabolism differ in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic subjects. In normal subjects, interferon decreased LDL cholesterol and apo B levels through a reduction in the LDL apo B production rate. However, in hypercholesterolemic subjects, interferon reduced LDL cholesterol by altering the distribution of apo B mass between LDL subspecies.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effects of interferons beta or gamma on neopterin biosynthesis and tryptophan degradation by human alveolar macrophages in vitro: synergy with lipopolysaccharide.

Interferons can induce neopterin biosynthesis and tryptophan degradation in monocytic cells. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an inducible cellular enzyme, metabolizes tryptophan to N-formyl-L-kynurenine. Tryptophan degradation has been linked to interferon-mediated inhibition of replication by intracellular pathogens and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. We evaluated the ability of the recombinant human interferons beta ser and gamma to stimulate neopterin production and tryptophan degradation in vitro by alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained from normal volunteers by bronchoalveolar lavage. Additionally, because other biologic response modifiers such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can also stimulate monocytic cells to produce increased amounts of neopterin and degrade tryptophan, we evaluated the effects of LPS on interferon-induced neopterin production and tryptophan degradation by AM. Both interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interferon-beta (IFN-beta) induced neopterin production and tryptophan degradation by AM with corresponding inhibition of intracellular replication by Chlamydia psittaci in AM, but IFN-gamma was a more potent inducer of these responses than IFN-beta. LPS enhanced neopterin production and tryptophan degradation by interferon-exposed cells. This effect was particularly evident at lower concentrations of interferon, and LPS synergy was more pronounced with IFN-beta than IFN-gamma. Concentrations of LPS that alone had no stimulatory effect on tryptophan degradation synergistically enhanced the induction of IDO activity by lower concentrations of interferon. These studies suggest that IFN-gamma stimulates human AM to produce neopterin and degrade tryptophan more potently than IFN-beta, and that low concentrations of LPS can synergistically enhance such effects of interferons on tissue macrophage metabolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Intraperitoneal administration of interferon-gamma to carcinoma patients enhances expression of tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 and carcinoembryonic antigen on malignant ascites cells.

PURPOSE: The study was designed to determine whether in vivo interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) administration could enhance tumor antigen expression on the surface of human tumor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients (six with ovarian and two with gastrointestinal tumors) with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma with secondary malignant ascites were given weekly escalating doses of IFN-gamma (ie, 0.1 to 100 MU) intraperitoneally (IP) each week for 8 weeks. Tumor cells were isolated from the patients' ascites samples, which were collected three times per week: before and 24 and 48 hours post-IFN-gamma administration. The level of expression of tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was measured using flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: IFN-gamma administered IP dramatically increased TAG-72 (as measured by binding of anti-TAG-72 monoclonal antibodies [MoAbs] B72.3 and CC 49) and CEA (measured by MoAb COL-1) expression on the surface of the carcinoma cells. The ascites-derived tumor cells from seven of the eight patients constitutively expressed TAG-72, and the level of TAG-72 expression was increased by IFN-gamma in all seven patients, as evidenced by the enhanced binding of anti-TAG-72 MoAbs to the tumor-cell surface. In some cases, IFN-gamma treatment increased the percentage of MoAb B72.3-reactive tumor cells from 10% to greater than 90%, and those changes were further corroborated by similar increases in the MoAb staining intensity observed with immunoperoxidase analysis. In addition, ascites-derived tumor cells from two patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma also expressed enhanced CEA levels after IFN-gamma. The increased TAG-72 and CEA expression were observed at low IFN-gamma doses (ie, 0.1 to 1.0 MU), which were well tolerated by all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of IFN-gamma given IP to increase TAG-72 and CEA expression on tumor cells in vivo provides additional argument for the use of the cytokine as an adjuvant to enhance MoAb binding to human carcinoma-cell populations.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1992

Current status of interferons in the treatment of cancer.

Interferons produced by recombinant DNA technology began phase I trials little more than a decade ago. Today interferon alfa-2 is a mainstay in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, and has demonstrated benefit in the more common chronic myelogenous leukemia. Interferon alfa-2 also has activity in other hematologic malignancies, including indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, T-cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, and in solid tumors such as disseminated melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, endocrine pancreatic tumors, and malignant carcinoid tumors. Interferon alfa, beta, and gamma remain under investigation to define potential roles in ovarian, breast, bladder, and cervical carcinomas and gliomas. The greatest value of the interferons will be in prolonging the disease-free interval when used in combination with other treatment modalities, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and other biologic agents.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1992

Inhibitory effects of cytokines on vascular endothelial cells: synergistic interactions among interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1.

The formation of new blood vessels is critical to tumor growth and metastasis and since endothelial cells are the principal cell type comprising such blood vessels, we carried out experiments to test whether the growth of endothelial cells in vitro can be inhibited by low doses of combinations of cytokines. We show that growth of mouse aortic endothelial cells can be inhibited in vitro by combinations of cytokines that, administered singly even at ten times higher concentrations, have only marginal effects. In particular, interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), acting synergistically at low, subthreshold concentrations, are able to completely inhibit the growth of endothelial cells in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A human 15-kDa IFN-induced protein induces the secretion of IFN-gamma.

A 15,000 molecular weight protein (15-kDa), induced and secreted by human PBMC after treatment with IFN-alpha or -beta, was assessed for its ability to modulate cellular function. Although it had no effect on growth or 2'5'-A synthetase activity in Daudi, U-937, or HL-60 cells, when incubated with fresh human PBMC, LPS-induced monocyte cytotoxicity against WEHI-164 target cells was augmented. This stimulation was inhibited by both an antibody against TNF-alpha and a rabbit polyclonal antiserum to the 15-kDa protein. Furthermore, when the 15-kDa protein was added to PBMC an increase in GTP cyclohydrolase I activity, as assessed by neopterin secretion, resulted. Neopterin secretion by PBMC in response to the 15-kDa was increased in a dose-responsive manner up to more than sixfold over baseline, with a 15-kDa concentration of less than 10 ng/ml effective. The 15-kDa protein also stimulated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity in fresh, human PBMC. Induction of neopterin secretion and IDO activity was inhibited by a polyclonal antiserum to 15-kDa. LPS-induced cytotoxic activity was not augmented by 15-kDa pretreatment of purified monocytes, indicating the need for the presence of a second cell population and the indirect action of the 15-kDa on the induction of monocyte activities. When PBMC or purified CD3+ cells, but not purified CD14+ cells, were incubated with the 15-kDa protein, secretion of a factor was induced that resulted in the induction of IDO activity in PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells. An antibody to IFN-gamma, but not IFN-alpha, inhibited the induction of IDO activity by this secreted factor. In addition, antiserum to the 15-kDa blocked the secretion of IFN-gamma from the CD3+ cells. Thus, a 15-kDa product of IFN-alpha- and IFN-beta-treated monocytes and lymphocytes can stimulate secretion of IFN-gamma from CD3+ cells.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1991

Evidence for the elevation of serum carcinoembryonic antigen and tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 levels in patients administered interferons.

Sera were collected from 111 patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma or nonadenocarcinoma malignancies who received different schedules of interferon (IFN)-gamma or IFN-beta ser alone or in combination. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72) antigen levels were measured to determine whether interferon could enhance the tumor shedding and, thereby, the serum level of either tumor antigen. Less than 10% of the sera samples from patients diagnosed with nonadenocarcinoma malignancies (e.g., hairy cell leukemia, melanoma) had positive titers of TAG-72 or CEA, and interferon neither increased nor resulted in the appearance of either tumor antigen in those sera. In contrast, 59.2% and 75.4% of the patients with adenocarcinoma had positive serum levels of TAG-72 and CEA, respectively, prior to interferon. IFN-gamma and IFN-beta ser alone or in combination significantly increased serum TAG-72 or CEA in approximately 65% of those patients. The results suggest that interferon administration to patients with adenocarcinoma can result in increased serum levels of selected tumor-associated antigens used in the diagnosis of malignancy. These preliminary findings may be important in the development of new strategies to obtain more sensitive tumor antigen serum assays for the diagnosis and monitoring for disease progression of adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Applications of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant cytokines for the treatment of human colorectal and other carcinomas.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) which recognize a human tumor antigen, termed tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72), have successfully been used to localize primary as well as metastatic colorectal tumor lesions in patients. The localization of the anti-TAG-72 MAbs has also been exploited intraoperatively using a hand-held gamma probe. That procedure, termed radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS), has identified occult tumors which were not detected using standard external imaging techniques. In another clinical trial, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was administered intraperitoneally to patients diagnosed with either gastrointestinal or ovarian carcinoma with secondary ascites. Analysis of the tumor cells isolated from the malignant ascites revealed a substantial increase in TAG-72 expression on the surface of tumor cells isolated from seven of eight patients. The results provide evidence that the combination of an anti-carcinoma MAb with the administration of a cytokine, such as IFN-gamma, may be an effective approach for the detection and subsequent treatment, of colorectal carcinoma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Implications of interferon-induced tryptophan catabolism in cancer, auto-immune diseases and AIDS.

Tryptophan (Trp) is an indispensable amino acid required for biosynthesis of proteins, serotonin and niacin. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is induced by infections, viruses, lipopolysaccharides, or interferons (IFNs) and this results in significant catabolism of Trp along the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway. Intracellular growth of Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia psittaci in human fibroblasts in vitro is inhibited by IFN-gamma and this inhibition is negated by extra Trp in the medium. Similarly, growth of a number of human cell lines in vitro is inhibited by IFN-gamma and addition of extra Trp restores growth. Thus, in some in vitro systems, antiproliferative effects of IFN-gamma are mediated by induced depletion of Trp. We find that cancer patients given Type I or Type II IFNs can induce IDO which results in decreased serum Trp levels (20-50% of pretreatment) and increased urinary metabolites of the Kyn pathway (5 to 500 fold of pretreatment). We speculate that in vivo antineoplastic effects of IFNs and clinical side effects are mediated, at least in part, by a general or localized depletion of Trp. In view of reported increases of IFNs in autoimmune diseases and our earlier findings of elevated urinary Trp metabolites in autoimmune diseases, it seems likely that systemic or local depletion of Trp occurs in autoimmune diseases and may relate to degeneration, wasting and other symptoms in such diseases. We find high levels of IDO in cells isolated from synovia of arthritic joints. IFNs are also elevated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and increasing IFN levels are associated with a worsening prognosis. We propose that IDO is induced chronically by HIV infection, is further increased by opportunistic infections, and that this chronic loss of Trp initiates mechanisms responsible for the cachexia, dementia, diarrhea and possibly immunosuppression of AIDS patients. In these symptoms, AIDS resembles classical pellagra due to dietary deficiency of Trp and niacin. In preliminary studies, others report low levels of Trp and serotonin, and elevated levels of Kyn and quinolinic acid in AIDS patients. The implications of these data in cancer, autoimmune diseases and AIDS are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗