title: Recombinant interferon alfa-2a with or without vinblastine in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: results of a European multi-center phase III study.
abstract: A total of 178 patients with metastatic renal cell cancer were randomized to receive interferon alfa-2a (rIFN alfa-2a) or interferon alfa-2a+vinblastine (VLB). IFN alfa-2a was injected intramuscularly at a dose of 18 MIU 3 times a week and VLB was given intravenously at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks. The response rate was 11% for patients on monotherapy and 24% for those on combination treatment. The 5-year survival for 145 eligible patients was 9%, independently from the treatment arm. The performance status was significantly related to long-term prognosis, and 13% of the patients with performance status 0 were alive at 5 years, as compared to 6% and 0% for patients with a WHO grade of 1 and 2, respectively. The most frequent adverse events in both treatment arms were flu-like symptoms (95%), fatigue (70%) and gastrointestinal disturbances (68%). Leukopenia was observed more frequently with combination treatment (53%) than with IFN alfa-2a alone (30%). In conclusion, rIFN alfa-2a monotherapy at this dose and schedule has modest antitumor activity in metastatic renal cell cancer. The combination of rIFN alfa-2a+VLB results in a doubling of the response rate, but this does not translate into prolonged survival. Toxicity (except leukopenia) and tolerance were similar in both treatment arms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fosså
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wander
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oberling
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Achtnicht
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Holdener
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015996:Survival Rate; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014747:Vinblastine