pubmed-article:2325324 | pubmed:abstractText | Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) producing capacity was measured in 47 patients with prostatic cancer by whole blood assay. The mean IFN-alpha producing capacity of prostatic cancer patients was 3657 IU/ml, which indicated a significantly (p less than 0.005) lower value than that in healthy male aged 50 years or more. IFN-alpha producing capacity in patients with Stage D disease was lower than that with Stage A, B or C. The higher the grade of the disease, the lower tended to be the capacity. A certain relationship was suspected between IFN-alpha producing capacity and the prognosis of each patient. In particular, in patients with prostatic cancer in Stage D, the prognosis was worse in low IFN-alpha producing capacity group (less than 3000 IU/ml) than in normal or high IFN-alpha producing capacity group (greater than or equal to 3000 IU/ml). It was considered that IFN-alpha producing capacity might be useful in developing the prognosis of patients with prostatic cancer. | lld:pubmed |