title: [Role of interferon in the treatment of renal cancer in adults].
abstract: Alpha interferon is effective in the treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer. To obtain a maximal efficacy, alpha interferon should be used at a dose of 10 MU/m2, or 18 MU total dose, given daily or three times a week. At such doses interferon produces flu-like symptoms and severe asthenia and thus should be proposed only to patients who have a good performance status. The response rate is low, in the order of 15-20%, and the median remission duration is short (6-10 months). However a few patients experience very durable remissions, sometimes for more than 5 years. The response rate may possibly be improved to 20% to 35% by combining interferon alpha with antineoplastic agents or to other cytokines, namely interleukin 2. Finally because of its supposed mechanisms of action-direct tumor growth inhibition and enhancement of the host's immune defenses--interferon may be of benefit in the adjuvant setting.
authors.affiliation: Service de radiothérapie, hôpital civil, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bergerat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dufour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014747:Vinblastine; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons