| Abstract | Adjuvant chemotherapy is a well accepted concept in the treatment of breast cancer and has resulted in most clinical studies in a significant prolongation of the disease-free interval in certain subgroups of patients. However, very little is known about the late effects of adjuvant chemotherapy and its influence upon the function of a series of physiologic mechanisms. In the present paper, a review of our studies on the influence of adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluoruracil (CMF) upon the function of B, T and natural killer (NK) cells is given. It is shown that CMF adversely influenced primary antibody production following vaccination for a prolonged period of time after the termination of CMF treatment. In investigating T cell function, it was found that the administration of CMF led also to a similarly prolonged impairment of phytohemagglutinin (PHA-)stimulated soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) production and to a decrease in the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells following mitogenic stimulation with PHA. Finally, NK cell activity was found to be decreased for such a prolonged period of time after the termination of CMF treatment, too. We thus conclude that the administration of CMF in the adjuvant setting leads to a pronounced and prolonged impairment of certain immune mechanisms. |
| Authors | C C Zielinski, C Müller, E Kubista, A Staffen, M M Eibl
(Affiliation: IInd Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Austria.)
|
| Journal | Acta medica Austriaca
(Acta Med Austriaca)
Vol. 17
Issue 1
Pg. 11-4
( 1990)
ISSN: 0303-8173 AUSTRIA |
| PMID | 2353562
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
| Chemical References |
- CMF regimen
- Receptors, Interleukin-2
- Cyclophosphamide
- Fluorouracil
- Methotrexate
|
| Topics |
- Antibody Formation
(drug effects)
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- B-Lymphocytes
(drug effects)
- Breast Neoplasms
(drug therapy, immunology, surgery)
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Cyclophosphamide
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Female
- Fluorouracil
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Immune Tolerance
(drug effects)
- Killer Cells, Natural
(drug effects)
- Lymphocyte Activation
(drug effects)
- Methotrexate
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Receptors, Interleukin-2
(drug effects)
- T-Lymphocytes
(drug effects)
|
