A phase II study of recombinant interleukin-2 with or without recombinant interferon-beta in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A study of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-beta (IFN-beta) have demonstrated activity against lymphoid malignancies, presumably mediated by the augmentation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell and natural killer (NK) cell activity. There is in vitro and in vivo evidence to suggest that the combination of IL-2 and IFN-beta is synergistic. The Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) conducted a randomized phase II trial of IL-2 with or without IFN-beta in 49 patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Overall toxicity was severe, with 17 patients experiencing life-threatening toxicity. Three patients had treatment-related deaths. Responses were noted in seven patients (17%). There were no meaningful differences between treatment arms in toxicity profile, response rate, or modulation of in vivo NK and LAK activity. We conclude that IL-2 with or without IFN-beta is not effective therapy for NHL in the doses and schedule used in this study.
Duggan
D B
DB
SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse 13210.
Santarelli
M T
MT
Zamkoff
K
K
Lichtman
S
S
Ellerton
J
J
Cooper
R
R
Poiesz
B
B
Anderson
J R
JR
Bloomfield
C D
CD
Peterson
B A
BA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016899:Interferon-beta