Experiences with continuous intraarterial administration of recombinant interferon alpha-2C (rIFN-alpha 2) for treatment of patients with advanced transitional cell bladder cancer.
The response of locally-advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder to intraarterial regional treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2C (rIFN-alpha 2) was investigated. Patients received 4-weekly courses of i.a. continuous infusion of rIFN-alpha 2 (5 megaunits/24 hours administered into the a. iliaca interna via a subcutaneously implanted port-a-cath) alternating with 4 weeks i.m. treatment cycles (5 megaunits/day x 3 weekly). None of the 5 patients entered in the study showed evidence of objective tumor regression after a median of 4 i.a./i.m. treatment cycles. Constitutional, organ and local toxic effects were considerable even with that low-dosage schedule employed. The lack of efficacy and poor tolerance of the regimen suggest that i.a. administration of IFN is unlikely to yield an acceptable therapeutic index.
Scheithauer
W
W
Department of Internal Medicine II, Vienna University School of Medicine, Austria.
Theyer
G
G
Zechner
O
O
Ludwig
H
H
D000368:Aged; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins