Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Levamisole (LMS) has immunomodulatory activity, stimulates the immune system of healthy, normal volunteers and has been proposed previously as a colon cancer preventive agent. METHODS: Patients with a history of colonic polyps who are at increased risk of colon cancer received LMS in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trail with crossover design. Primary endpoints were immunologic and included flow cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), measurement of interferon-gamma copy number (IGCN) in PBMCs, and an ex vivo serum immune assay. RESULTS: No differences were seen in the expression of multiple antigens by flow cytometry pre- and post-LMS. The IGCN partitioned subjects into two distinct groups defined by a gamma-distribution which had a differential response to LMS. Those with low basal IGCN had a lower percentage of CD25 expressing PBMCs and responded to low dose LMS by producing more PBMC-derived interferon-gamma and increasing the expression of CD25 and two NK cell markers, CD16 and CD56. In contrast, subjects with a high basal IGCN responded to low dose LMS with a reduction in PBMC-derived interferon-gamma and a decrease in the expression of CD25. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Randall F Holcombe, Christine E McLaren, Tatjana Milovanovic |
Journal | Cancer detection and prevention
(Cancer Detect Prev)
Vol. 30
Issue 1
Pg. 94-8
( 2006)
ISSN: 0361-090X [Print] England |
PMID | 16458451
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Placebos
- Levamisole
- Interferon-gamma
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Topics |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
(administration & dosage)
- Colonic Neoplasms
(drug therapy, immunology, prevention & control)
- Colonic Polyps
(drug therapy, immunology, prevention & control)
- Cross-Over Studies
- Double-Blind Method
- Flow Cytometry
- Humans
- Immunity, Cellular
- Interferon-gamma
(metabolism)
- Levamisole
(administration & dosage)
- Placebos
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