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Apoptosis in alpha interferon (IFN-α) intratumoral chemotherapy for cystic craniopharyngiomas

  • A.J. Raimondi ISPN Award
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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to verify whether intracystic injections of alpha-Interferon (IFN-α) in cystic craniopharyngiomas were able to reduce the tumor by activating the Fas apoptotic pathway.

Materials and methods

Twenty-one patients with cystic craniopharyngiomas treated at the Pediatric Oncology Institute (IOP/GRAACC) of Federal University of São Paulo were submitted to intracystic chemotherapy with IFN-α. The tumor sizes of all patients were monitored and the apoptotic factor soluble FasL (sFasL) concentration was determined by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in tumor fluid samples from eight patients.

Results

There was a complete reduction in 11 patients, a partial response in seven, and a minor response in three patients. The concentration of sFasL was increased in all the eight patients examined concomitantly with the tumor size reduction.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that the IFN-α was able to induce Fas-mediated apoptosis together with a reduction in the tumor size; such an observation may suggest the importance to investigate still unexplored mechanisms to be exploited in craniopharyngioma therapy.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Daniel Gemmi from the Image Diagnose Department of the Pediatric Oncology Institute IOP/GRAACC of Federal University of São Paulo—Brazil, Flavia Dona and Daniela Gonçalves Lenci for their careful assistance. This work was supported by grants from Fapesp and CNPq.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery,Pediatric Oncology Institute, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 743, 8° andar, 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    D. F. Ierardi & P. Dastoli

  2. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo,Epilepsy Neurobiology Laboratory, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 781, 6° andar, 04039-032, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    M. J. S. Fernandes & I. R. Silva

  3. Pediatric Oncology Institute, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 743, 8° andar, 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    J. Thomazini-Gouveia

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Oncology Institute, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 743, 8° andar, 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    N. S. Silva

  5. Department of Genetics, Pediatric Oncology Institute, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 743, 8° andar, 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    S. R. C. Toledo

  6. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Pediatric Oncology Institute, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 591/42, 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    S. Cavalheiro

Authors
  1. D. F. Ierardi
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  2. M. J. S. Fernandes
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  3. I. R. Silva
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  4. J. Thomazini-Gouveia
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  5. N. S. Silva
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  6. P. Dastoli
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  7. S. R. C. Toledo
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  8. S. Cavalheiro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. F. Ierardi.

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Ierardi, D.F., Fernandes, M.J.S., Silva, I.R. et al. Apoptosis in alpha interferon (IFN-α) intratumoral chemotherapy for cystic craniopharyngiomas. Childs Nerv Syst 23, 1041–1046 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-007-0409-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-007-0409-3

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