Intravenous administration of amphotericin B entrapped in liposomes: induction of high serum levels of TNF alpha.

The rate of objective response to second-line chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and vincristine increased from 13% to 55% in two consecutive series of patients with small-cell lung cancer when the therapy was potentiated by amphotericin B (2 mg/kg i.v.) entrapped in liposomes (= ampholiposomes). Patients who received ampholiposomes had a rapid and significant (p less than 0.01) increase of serum TNF alpha concentrations (median value: from less than 10 to 261 pg/mL) followed by a rise in serum neopterin and CRP. No major side effects were observed. Administration of ampholiposomes appeared to be a safe method for obtaining relatively high serum levels of TNF alpha that could potentiate anticancer chemotherapy.