title: Recombinant alpha-interferon and vinblastine in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: efficacy of low doses.
abstract: Twenty-six patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated in a phase I-II trial with recombinant interferon alpha-2b (alpha-IFN) and vinblastine (VBL) in combination. Patients received IFN at a starting dose of 3 x 10(6) IU/m2 subcutaneously three times a week and VBL 0.1 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks, with dose modification for toxicity. All patients were evaluable for toxicity; 18 patients were evaluable for efficacy. An objective response rate of 44% was observed (eight of 18 patients, with one complete response and seven partial responses). The median duration of response was 5 months. The actuarial survival of responding patients was significantly longer than that of nonresponding patients. In general, the toxicity was tolerable; the subjective toxicity and fever were similar to that reported for the same doses of IFN alone. Only a mild neurotoxicity, usually mixed polyneuropathy, occurred with increased frequency. Alpha-IFN and VBL administered at low doses in combination demonstrated the highest response rate so far reported in RCC without significant toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Cetto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turrina
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiarion-Sileni
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paccagnella
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bassetto
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Molino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Sandre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014747:Vinblastine