Anti-cancer drugs
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Recombinant rIL-2 was reported to be able to decrease P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in cultured cells from human colon carcinoma. P-gp is considered an important factor in the control of Taxol efflux from tumor cells. Based on the premise that Taxol pharmacokinetic parameters could be modified as a result of diminished P-gp expression induced by recombinant interleukin (rIL)-2 and that this might elicit an interaction between the two drugs, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics of a novel strategy combining i.p. immunotherapy with rIL-2 and a cytotoxic agent, Taxol. ⋯ We conclude that rIL-2 pretreatment is able to decrease P-gp activity and paclitaxel metabolism in vivo. This is the first study to demonstrate a decrease in P-gp activity and expression in organs such as the brain in vivo. A novel strategy combining immunotherapy with rIL-2 and a cytotoxic agent could potentially improve clinical results, particularly in brain cancer.