Combination therapy with subcutaneous interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha in advanced renal cancer patients with poor prognostic factors.
Sixteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were treated with a combination of low-dose subcutaneous interleukin-2 (IL-2) and recombinant interferon (IFN)-alpha. One treatment course included 6 weeks of treatment followed by a 2-week rest. Patients received therapy as outpatients. All patients were assessable for toxicity and response assessment. Nine patients experienced severe toxicities resulting in dosage modification. The major treatment-limiting side effects were gastrointestinal, cutaneous, fever and flu-like symptoms. One patient (6%) had partial remission and six patients (37.5%) had disease stabilization. Overall median survival was 8 months. In our study IL-2 and IFN-alpha showed a low activity and a quite high toxicity. It seems that the prognostic factors per se rather than treatment options might impact the treatment results in advanced renal cancer patients.
Canobbio
L
L
Department of Medical Oncology II, National Institute for Cancer Research of Genoa, Italy.
Curotto
A
A
Cannata
D
D
Miglietta
L
L
Lavarello
A
A
Giglio
C
C
Franchini
R
R
Cussotto
M
M
Boccardo
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins