title: Treatment of gastrointestinal and renal adenocarcinomas with interferon-alpha.
abstract: Treatment of adenocarcinomas with interferon-alpha as a single agent has been disappointing. Recent efforts have focused on the combination of interferon with cytotoxic drugs such as 5-fluorouracil. A number of postulated mechanisms can explain synergistic interactions between 5-fluorouracil and interferon-alpha, including interaction with pyrimidine pathways, and alteration of drug metabolism. Previous studies in colorectal cancer, using 5-fluorouracil and interferon-alpha are reviewed, suggesting that the combination is more active than 5-fluorouracil alone. In renal cell carcinoma, the literature is reviewed, suggesting that daily interferon is the most efficacious schedule; preliminary data suggest that addition of 5-fluorouracil to interferon-alpha can double the expected response rate of 16% achieved by interferon-alpha alone.
authors.affiliation: Carolina Oncology, Sanford, North Carolina 27330.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Meadows
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindley
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozer
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D005472:Fluorouracil