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  • Clinical Oncology/Epidemiology
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Clinical Oncology/Epidemiology

The effect of 5-fluorouracil and alpha interferon and 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin on cellular anti-tumour immune responses in patients with advanced colorectal cancer

British Journal of Cancer volume 70, pages 946–949 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) enhances the activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer although the mechanism is not understood. We have investigated the effect of this combination on cellular immunity and compared this with standard therapy of 5-FU/L-leucovorin, in 24 patients with advanced colorectal cancer. This study has demonstrated an enhancement of the cellular immune response in patients given 5-FU/IFN-alpha with augmentation of natural killer (NK) cell function and abrogation of 5-FU-induced suppression of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Medicine, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK

    PH Nichols

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  1. PH Nichols
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  2. U Ward
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  3. CW Ramsden
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  4. JN Primrose
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Nichols, P., Ward, U., Ramsden, C. et al. The effect of 5-fluorouracil and alpha interferon and 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin on cellular anti-tumour immune responses in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 70, 946–949 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1994.426

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1994.426

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