Complete response of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to low-dose interferon-gamma treatment.
The course of metastatic renal cell carcinoma may be positively influenced by immunotherapeutic agents. We report a case of renal cell carcinoma showing a complete response to once-weekly low-dose s. c. interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) treatment in multiple metastatic sites (lung, chest wall, abdomen, vertebral body), but concomitantly developing a solitary brain metastasis. High initial interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels returned to normal during IFN treatment suggesting that IFN gamma may have interrupted an autocrine IL-6/IL-6-receptor loop of the tumor cells. The duration of complete remission in the extracerebral sites is now 46+ months. IFN gamma may be less active beyond the blood/brain barrier.
Otto
F
F
Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, Germany.
Mackensen
A
A
Mertelsmann
R
R
Engelhardt
R
R
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010976:Platelet Count; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015850:Interleukin-6; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein