In a nutshell
The authors aimed to determine the effect of interleukin-2 in treating in-transit skin cancer.
Some background
In-transit skin cancer is cancer that has progressed into the lymph nodes (sites that hold the immune cells) from the primary site of cancer. Interleukin-2 (IL-2, Proleukin, Aldesleukin) is a man-made protein used to treat a number of cancers, including in-transit skin cancer. It functions by activating cells involved in fighting disease and infection and by preventing cancer cell growth.
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of interleukin-2 in treating in-transit skin cancer.
31 patients were used in this study with a follow-up time of 19.4 months. Patients were given interleukin-2 for an average of 2.5 months. The side-effects of treatment were minor (fatigue, fever, 24 hour chills) where only one patient experienced a serious skin infection.
32.3% of patients experienced a complete response to treatment (there were no signs or symptoms of cancer after treatment), 54.8% experienced a partial response (cancer responded to treatment but was not eradicated fully) and 12.9% experienced cancer progression despite treatment.
After treatment was received 58.1% experienced local progression (cancer develops very close to the initial site of disease) and 80.6% experienced cancer progression of any kind (local, at the initial cancer site or spread to other parts of the body). 38.7% of patients died, where skin cancer was the main factor resulting in their death.
Of the 10 patients (32.3%) who experienced a complete response to treatment, 4 patients experienced local progression and 6 patients experienced general progression but no patient died from skin cancer. Patients who experienced a complete response had an improved progression-free survival (length of time patients did not experience cancer progression after treatment) compared to patients with partial or no response to treatment.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that patients who experienced a complete response to interluekin-2 had an improved survival compared to patients who did not.
The fine print
This is the first study of its kind and requires further validation to be widely applied.
What’s next?
If you are considering interleukin-2 as a form of treatment, please consult your doctor for potential risks and benefits.
Published By :
Annals of Surgical Oncology
Date :
Nov 01, 2014
