Occurrence of autoimmunity in a long-term survivor with metastatic colon carcinoma treated with a new chemo-immunotherapy regimen

GOLFIG-1 chemo-immunotherapy is a new translational anticancer regimen based on the combined use of gemcitabine, oxalipatin, levofolinic acid and infusional 5-fluorouracil together with the subcutaneous administration immunoadjuvant cytokines (GM-CSF and ultra low dose IL-2). This regimen, tested in a phase II trial, was safe and very active in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma and it has been shown to have powerful immunobiological activity. Treatment with the GOLFIG regimen resulted in the induction of a colon cancer specific cell mediated immune response associated with a significant reduction in the percentage of peripheral regulatory T (T(reg)) cells, a very immunosuppressive lymphocyte subset which is commonly over-represented in cancer patients. These cells are able to prevent the occurrence of autoimmunity in response to immunological stimuli, thus their malfunctioning has been associated with the occurrence of auto-immune diseases but may also be responsible for more efficient anticancer immune reaction. In this manuscript we describe a clinical case concerning a patient with metastatic colon carcinoma who responded to the GOLFIG regimen, showed symptoms of autoimmunity [Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)] and had a very long survival.