title: Subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 and alpha-interferon in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma: results of a multicenter Phase II Study.
abstract: A phase II multiinstitutional clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the subcutaneous outpatient administration of recombinant human interleukin-2 and alpha-interferon in patients with progressive metastatic renal cell carcinoma. One hundred and forty-five patients were entered on this study between October 1989 and May 1991. Among 134 patients evaluable for treatment response, there were six complete (4.5%) and twenty partial (14.9%) responders, with an overall response rate of 19.4% (95% confidence interval, 13-26%). The median duration of complete remissions was 228 (range 51(+)-520+) days; the median duration of partial tumor regressions was calculated at 226 (range 112-473+) days. The overall median survival from start of therapy was 14.2 (range 1-23+) months. Fever, chills and general fatigue occurred in the majority of patients treated and were measured at grade II, III and IV in up to 55%, 24% and 3% of all evaluable patients, respectively. Three patients each developed grade III hypotension, dyspnea and diarrhea; two patients each had grade III and grade IV elevations of alkaline phosphatase; two and one patients respectively, exhibited grade III anemia and grade IV thrombocytopenia; two patients experienced severe cutaneous toxicity. The majority of patients received treatment in the outpatient setting. In summary, the outpatient use of subcutaneous interleukin-2 and alpha-interferon was effective in patients with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma; it was associated with less toxicity and thus, could improve the therapeutic index of interleukin-2 based biologic therapy when compared against high dose intravenous therapy.
authors: Medizinische Hochschule, Hannover, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Atzpodien
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kirchner
authors: P
authors: P
authors: de Mulder
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Bodenstein
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Oliver
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Palmer
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Franks
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Poliwoda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins