title: Interleukin-2 therapy for refractory and relapsing lymphomas.
abstract: Recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) has been reported to be active in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. The purpose of this trial was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of rIL-2 administered in continuous infusion in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). 21 patients with HD (4 patients), diffuse large-cell NHL (7) or low-grade NHL (10) in failure or relapse after multiple-conventional treatments were included in this trial. rIL-2 therapy consisted of an induction period of two cycles separated by 3 weeks of rest, and, in the absence of progressive disease or undue toxicity, a maintenance period of 4 monthly cycles. Each induction cycle comprised the continuous infusion of rIL-2: 18 x 10(6) IU/m2 per day on days 1-5 and days 12-16. Each maintenance cycle comprised the continuous infusion of rIL-2: 18 x 10(6) IU/m2 per day on days 1-5. Among the 21 treated patients, 5 (all of those with low-grade NHL) responded to the induction phase (1 complete response, 4 partial responses) and 2 patients had a mixed response. Conversely, no response was observed in patients with HD or large-cell NHL. The median duration of response was 4 months. rIL-2 administered as a continuous infusion was well tolerated and most patients received the full dosage, and management did not require intensive care. During the induction period, 2 patients experienced grade III cardiovascular or renal toxicity. During the maintenance period, rIL-2 had to be interrupted in 1 patient because of a myocardial infarction. This trial confirms the inefficacy of rIL-2 for the treatment of large-cell NHL and HD. Conversely, in low-grade NHL, rIL-2 activity needs to be explored by further studies. rIL-2 may have a place in the early phase of the disease, when the immune system is not compromised, as an adjuvant treatment in residual disease in order to improve the duration of response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology/Hematology, Laennec Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tourani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Briere
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Andrieu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins