       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).

