Abstract
C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in serum were measured in fifteen patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma, prior to and during treatment with a continuous intravenous infusion of rIL.2. Patients were subsequently classified as responders or non-responders to this therapy. Baseline serum CRP levels, prior to treatment, were significantly lower in the responders (range < 2-8 mg l-1) when compared with the non-responders (range 7.5-116 mg l-1), P = 0.004. Furthermore, the responding patients demonstrated significantly and grossly elevated CRP stimulation indices (SI) compared with non-responders at different time intervals during the rIL2 infusion. At the cessation of rIL2 therapy, the CRP stimulation index was 31.3 +/- 9.3 in the responders, and only 1.6 +/- 0.3 in the non-responders (means +/- s.e.m, P = 0.014). These findings suggest that it is possible to predict those cancer patients who are most likely to respond to and benefit from rIL2 therapy, either prior to the commencement of or during the first course of rIL2.
Highlights
Summary C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in serum were measured in fifteen patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma, prior to and during treatment with a continuous intravenous infusion of rIL.2
At the cessation of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL2) therapy, the CRP stimulation index was 31.3 ± 9.3 in the responders, and only 1.6 ± 0.3 in the non-responders. These findings suggest that it is possible to predict those cancer patients who are most likely to respond to and benefit from rIL2 therapy, either prior to the commencement of or during the first course of rIL2
We present preliminary data showing that CRP levels in serum may be used as predictors of response to treatment with rIL2
Summary
Fifteen patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with rIL2 (18 x 106 IU m2 body surface area/24 h), by continuous intravenous infusion for a total of 120 h, combined with three pulses of 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/M2 body surface area), and folinic acid, (25 mg/M2 body surface area), given intravenously at weekly intervals, starting 48 h after completing the rIL2 infusion. Prior to commencing any treatment, the concentrations of CRP were measured in the patients serum by rate nephelometry (Stemnberg, 1977), using a Beckman ICS Analyser II with Beckman reagents, calibrators and controls (CRP standardised against WHO CRP standard). The coefficient of variation for CRP measurements is 4% in our laboratory and the lower limit of the assay was 2 mg 1-. The serum concentrations of CRP during therapy were measured at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 120 h after the commencement of the rIL2 infusions. Received 30 September 1991; and in revised form 13 July 1992
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