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The effect of low-dose interleukin-2-based immunotherapy on salivary function and composition in patients with
1Oral Biochemistry Laboratory, Rambam Medical Center and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. nagler@tx.technion.ac.il
Insights
Low-dose immunotherapy with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) can cause salivary hypofunction. Patients experienced reduced resting saliva flow and altered composition, necessitating supportive therapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Oral Medicine
Background:
- Low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-based immunotherapy is associated with salivary hypofunction.
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients undergoing such treatment may experience adverse effects on salivary function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the functional and compositional changes in whole saliva.
- To assess salivary profiles in RCC patients receiving prolonged low-dose rIL-2 immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of salivary flow rates at resting and stimulated conditions.
- Assessment of salivary composition, including calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and total protein.
- Study included 10 renal cell carcinoma patients post-treatment with rIL-2 and recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha).
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in resting salivary flow rates observed post-treatment.
- Alterations in salivary composition included increased calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, with decreased total protein.
- No significant reduction in stimulated salivary flow rates; only phosphate levels were significantly altered under stimulated conditions.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged low-dose rIL-2 immunotherapy significantly impacts resting salivary function and composition in RCC patients.
- Recommendations include salivary-supporting therapies and anticariogenic treatments for patients undergoing this immunotherapy regimen.
Abstract:
One of the side-effects accompanying low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-based immunotherapy is salivary hypofunction. We evaluated the functional and compositional whole salivary profile at both resting and stimulated conditions in 10 renal cell carcinoma patients who received prolonged low-dose rIL-2-based immunotherapy. Following the termination of 4 weeks of the combined administration of rIL-2 and recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha), we found significant reductions of salivary flow rates at resting condition, accompanied by significant multiple compositional alterations, including increases in calcium, magnesium and phosphate concentrations, and significant reductions in total protein concentration. In contrast, no flow rate reduction was noted under stimulated condition, and the only significant altered compositional component was the phosphate. We recommend salivary-supporting therapies and anticariogenic treatments for patients undergoing low-dose rIL-2-based immunotherapy.
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