Angiogenic and immune parameters during recombinant interferon-alpha 2b adjuvant treatment in patients with melanoma

As an adjuvant therapy for patients with high risk of recurrent melanoma, h igh-dose interferon (IFN)-alpha 2b therapy has been shown to have some effi cacy. We examined 22 patients with resected melanoma who were treated with repeated injections of recombinant IFN-alpha 2b during the treatment. Both angiogenic and immune parameters were measured. White blood cells (WBCs) an d lymphocyte numbers, lymphocyte subpopulations, serum concentrations of IF N-alpha and anti-IFN-alpha antibodies, and the serum vascular endothelial g rowth factor (VEGF) interleukin (IL)-8, and basis fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) concentrations were determined over time in resected, recurrence-fre e patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III melanom a with one or less (LN+less than or equal to 1, n = 7) or more than one (LN + > 1, n = 8) lymph nodes involved, and AJCC stage IV resected disease (n = 7). Follow-up and recurrence-free intervals were longer in stage III (LNless than or equal to 1) patients compared with stage IV patients (P < 0.05 ). The number of WBCs and lymphocytes decreased during the treatment for al l patient groups (P < 0.001). In addition, percentages of CD8 and CD20 were higher in stage IV patients than in stage III (LN+ > 1) and stage III (LN less than or equal to 1) patients at the beginning of therapy (P < 0.05). A significant increase in the percentage of CD20+ cells, mostly B lymphocyt es, was observed in the stage III (LN+ > 1) and stage III (LN+ less than or equal to 1) patients over time but not in stage IV patients (P < 0.001). L ow IL-8 and bFGF concentrations at the beginning of therapy were associated with significantly longer recurrence-free survival (P < 0.05). These resul ts warrant a larger trial to determine if the differences observed in patie nts before treatment can provide prognostic markers in patients receiving I FN-alpha 2b therapy.