Second-line therapy with interferon-alpha plus vinblastine in metastatic renal cell cancer patients progressed under interleukin-2 subcutaneous immunotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Interferon (IFN) +/- vinblastine (VNB) has appeared to be effective as first-line therapy of metastatic renal cell cancer. This study was performed to establish the efficacy of IFN plus VNB in metastatic RCC previously treated with interleukin-2 (IL-2).


METHODS
The study included 14 metastatic renal cell cancer patients who did not respond to IL-2 subcutaneous therapy or who relapsed after initial response or stable disease. IFN-alpha 2a was given subcutaneously at 3 million U thrice a week in association with VNB (0.1 mg/kg i.v. every 21 days) until progression or toxicity. Patients were considered as evaluable when they were treated for at least 1 month.


RESULTS
Evaluable patients were 13/14. No patient had a complete response. Partial response was achieved in 2/13 (15%) patients. Stable disease was seen in 5/13 patients, and the last 6 progressed.


CONCLUSIONS
This study, by showing a tumor response rate comparable to that reported with first-line therapy, suggests that previous IL-2 immunotherapy does not influence negatively the efficacy of IFN+VNB in metastatic renal cell cancer.
Paolorossi
F
F
Divisione di Radioterapia Oncologica, Ospedale San Gerardo, Milano, Italy.
Villa
S
S
Barni
S
S
Tancini
G
G
Andres
M
M
Lissoni
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014747:Vinblastine