title: Cyclic interferon alpha treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: results of a phase II study and review of the literature.
abstract: In a phase II clinical trial 23 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were treated with a cyclic regimen of interferon alpha-2b (IFN-alpha). To these 23 patients IFN-alpha at a dose of 10 MU/m2 body surface was applied subcutaneously on 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. In 12 out of these 23 patients tumor nephrectomy preceded this treatment. The mean follow-up period was 13.6 (range 2-36) months. No complete remission was achieved in any of the patients. One patient with lung metastases revealed a partial response for 19 months. Stable disease lasting 4 to > 36 (mean: 18.7) months was seen in 7 cases. Progressive disease was observed in 15 patients. Only slight side effects were noted, consisting of a maximum toxicity of grades II (n = 20) and III (n = 3) according to the WHO classification. Five out of 8 patients with partial responses or stable disease showed a long-lasting stabilization (> 12 months) of the disease with a good quality of life. In summary, in advanced renal cell carcinoma patients, the objective response rate of a cyclic treatment with IFN-alpha is rather low. However, a long-lasting stabilization of the disease including a good quality of life can be expected in a modest proportion of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Würzburg Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hofmockel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tack
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Frohmüller
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins