Production of antibodies to Interferon-a (INF-a) has been described in certain cases. In the present study the evaluation of antibody production was tested in cancer patients treated with INF-a
Material-Methods
Twenty five cancer patients that have been on therapy with interferon-a were included. The type of cancers were multiple myeloma, chronic myelogenous leukaemia hypemephroma, melanoma and colon carcinoma. All the patients had been on INF-a treatment for over 6 months. 9 other patients with malignancies that had not been on INF-a were also tested as control. The dose of INF-a varied from 5 mU to 9 mU per time given every 2d day subcutaneously. Elisa technique was used for the antibody demonstration
Results
No patient with INF-a therapy nor the control produced antibodies to INF-a
Comment
The lack of antibody production is discussed on whether it is due to immunosuppression of cancer patients, to the insensitivity of the technique or to the real lack of production.