Does Famotidine Enhance Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Breast Cancer?

Effect of Pre-Operative Short Course Famotidine on Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Colorectal Cancer: A Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Prospective Randomized Study

“…We evaluated the effect of pre-operative famotidine for three reasons: 1) to block the H2 receptors before other factors such as sepsis and blood transfusions can interfere with the effect of H2 antagonists; 2) famotidine has been shown to have immunomodulatory activity both in vivo and in vitro and has fewer drug interactions and side effects than cimetidine [31,32]; and 3) the ability of famotidine to enhance lymphocytic infiltration in patients with breast cancer has been previously demonstrated by us [30].…”

“…Thus, it seems that the possible benefits of H2RA are diminished, if used preoperatively because of the immunosuppressive effects of blood transfusions, infection and operative stress [27][28][29]. In a pilot study on patients with breast cancer, we found significant lymphocytic infiltration in those who were given famotidine pre-operatively [30]. Famotidine has also been shown to have immunostimulatory actions in vitro and in vivo [31].…”

Mast cells: the JEKYLL and HYDE of tumor growth

“…Ranitidine, used as adjuvant therapy, prolonged survival of colorectal cancer patients [35]; it also had a weak effect on the growth of melanoma cells in mice, whereas cimetidine was more effective. Another H2 receptor antagonist, famotidine, given pre-operatively for 14 days, enhanced tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and increased metastatic lymph node reactive changes in breast cancer in humans [36]. Nevertheless, pre-operative administration of cimetidine did not influence tumor-cell proliferation [37].…”

Outpatient Intravenous Interleukin-2 with Famotidine Has Activity in Metastatic Melanoma

“…The median number of IL-2 doses received per cycle was 18. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The most common toxicities are listed in Table 2. Overall, this regimen was well tolerated.…”

“…9 Also, famotidine may increase the infiltration of cytotoxic lymphocytes into tumors. 10 Third, our group has described that patients with metastatic melanoma responding to famotidine and continuous infusion followed by a bolus dose of IL-2 have increased numbers of CD56 + cells at subcutaneous and lymph node sites. 13 Mitchell et al have examined the use of outpatient intravenous IL-2 with the daily dose being 21.6 million IU/m 2 for 5 days for 2 consecutive weeks.…”