Helper T lymphocyte response in the peripheral blood of patients with intraepithelial neoplasia submitted to immunotherapy with pegylated interferon-α

Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Mar 10;16(3):5497-509. doi: 10.3390/ijms16035497.

Abstract

Immunotherapy in cancer patients is a very promising treatment and the development of new protocols and the study of the mechanisms of regression is imperative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of cytokines in helper T (CD4+) lymphocytes during immunotherapy with pegylated IFN-α in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). We conducted a prospective study with 17 patients with CIN II-III using immunotherapy with pegylated IFN-α subcutaneouly weekly, and using flow cytometry we evaluated the peripheric CD4+ T lymphocytes. The results show that in the regression group the patients presented a significant increase in the amount of IFN-γ during the entire immunotherapy, compared with the group without a response. The amount of CD4+ T lymphocytes positive for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β is significantly lower in patients with good clinical response. The results also demonstrate that patients with regression have a higher amount of intracellular TNF-α in CD4+ T lymphocytes before the start of treatment. Analyzing these data sets, it can be concluded that immunotherapy is a viable clinical treatment for patients with high-grade CIN and that the regression is dependent on the change in the immune response to a Th1 pattern.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / pharmacology*
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukins / genetics
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacology*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / blood
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / blood
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interleukins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Interferon-gamma
  • peginterferon alfa-2b