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1996-02-26
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Document 0713
DOCN M9620713
TI [Update on the use of interferons in clinical practice]
DT 9602
AU Lauta VM; Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche ed Oncologia Umana,;
Universita degli Studi di Bari.
SO Clin Ter. 1995 Jun-Jul;146(6-7):393-448. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
MED/96079574
AB Discovered by Isaac and Lindemann as a substance able to induce a
biological interference among viruses and host cells, interferon
appeared to include three main antigenic classes: alpha, beta and gamma.
There is a large variety of actions exhibited by different types of
interferon and among them it is possible to distinguish an antiviral,
antineoplastic, immunomodulatory or hormonal activity. Many years ago,
the antiviral action seemed to be relative to some cellular membrane
disorders, but later other mechanisms were stressed. Among them, it is
worth describing the transcription and transduction of antiviral
proteins like the oligoadenilsinthetase and proteinphosphokinase, able
to cause the viral RNA breackage. The antineoplastic action is exerted
by direct and indirect mechanisms. Direct mechanisms include an
antiproliferative activity and the induction to cellular differentiation
whereas the indirect ones involve the enhancement on tumor cell surfaces
of some tumor associated antigens included in the I class of MHC system.
The immunomodulatory action is exerted by the stimulation of
macrophages, T cells and Killer cells cytotoxic activity. The list of
viral diseases sensitive to interferon treatment includes condiloma
acuminata, herpes zoster, chronic B and C hepatitis and Kaposi sarcoma
AIDS-related. High proportions of overall response rate were observed
among interferon treated patients with condiloma acuminata (80-100%).
The use of interferon in the treatment of herpes zoster achieved good
results regarding a shorter duration of the time spent to induce the
chest pains and cutaneous symptoms disappearance when compared with that
relative to other antiviral drugs. Results obtained in the treatment of
chronic B and C hepatitis regard the disappearance of viral replication
serological markers and the improvement of histological and enzymatic
pattern. The effectiveness of interferon in the therapy of Kaposi
sarcoma is demonstrated by the reduction of cutaneous symptoms and
recurrent infectious diseases incidence. The use of interferon in
treatment of solid tumors seems to play secondary role and, at any rate,
to be adjuvant to chemotherapy. The administration of beta interferon as
therapy of breast cancer seems to increase the estrogens and
progesterone concentration in the neoplastic tissue and so it aims to
improve the sensitivity to the tamoxifen treatment. The addition of
interferon alpha both to 5-FU and cis-platinum seems to improve the
proportion of overall response rate respectively in the treatment of
colon cancer and head and neck cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
DE Antineoplastic Agents/*PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE Antiviral
Agents/*PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE English Abstract Human
Interferons/*PHARMACOLOGY/THERAPEUTIC USE JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW
REVIEW, ACADEMIC
SOURCE: National Library of Medicine. NOTICE: This material may be
protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).