Continuous intravenous infusion of high dose recombinant interleukin 2 for advanced lymphomas--a phase II study.
The prognosis of patients with advanced refractory lymphoma remains poor. We have carried out a Phase II study of continuous high dose intravenous recombinant interleukin 2 alone without LAK cells in this group of patients. Eight patients have so far been treated, 4 with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and 4 with Hodgkins disease. Of the 7 evaluable patients, the maximum response observed was stable disease in 2 patients (1 with NHL and 1 with HD). The other patients' diseases progressed in the face of immune activation following the rIL-2 infusion. Adverse reactions were common but no life-threatening occurred. These results are disappointing. Whether or not lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells are needed to improve response rate deserve further investigations.
Lim
S H
SH
Department of Haematology, University College Hospital, London.
Worman
C P
CP
Callaghan
T
T
Jewell
A
A
Smith
M P
MP
Goldstone
A H
AH
D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects
D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins