Possible correlation between some biologic effects and the clinical course in patients treated with continuous infusion of interleukin-2 plus alpha-2 interferon for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin-2 therapy is known to cause many biologic effects, which are enhanced by the administration of interferon prior to or immediately after interleukin-2 infusion. Some of these effects could be related to the clinical response.


METHODS
Sixteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were treated with continuous infusion of interleukin-2 plus alpha-2 interferon. Differential leukocyte count and lymphocyte subset evaluation were performed every 3 days during interleukin-2 treatment. At each cycle, the presence of the following antibodies was tested: antithyroid, antinuclear, antiplatelet and antierythrocyte.


RESULTS
Fifteen patients were evaluable for response. No complete response was observed. Five patients obtained partial response (33%) and 3 stable disease (20%): 2 of them underwent surgical resection of metastases and obtained complete response. Some of our patients showed a significant increase in eosinophils, CD25+ lymphocytes and antithyroid antibodies. The association of these parameters, calculated with a "score" system, was also related to a better clinical response.


CONCLUSIONS
Eosinophils, CD25+ lymphocytes and antithyroid antibodies could have a predictive value for the efficacy of interleukin-2 and alpha-2 interferon therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Divisioni Oncologia Medica Falck, Ospedale Niguarda Cà Granda, Milano, Italy.
C
C
Baiocchi
G
G
Landonio
G
G
Balzarini
C
C
Cacioppo
M
M
Calgaro
M
M
Ferrari
O
O
Gottardi
M
M
Majno
F
F
Scanzi
E
E
Ghislandi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D001323:Autoantibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2