title: [Immunochemotherapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma with interleukin 2, interferon-alpha and 5-fluorouracil].
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) were both administered subcutaneously (SC) in combination with intravenously (IV) applied 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of patients with metastasized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The therapy protocol consisted of a treatment cycle of 8 weeks, which could be carried out in an outpatient regimen. The IFN-alpha was given in each of the 8 weeks (6-9 MU/m2 once to three times weekly SC) combined sequentially with IL-2 (5-20 MU/m2 three times weekly SC for 4 weeks) and 5-FU (750 mg/m2 IV weekly for 4 weeks). Among the 30 consecutive patients treated, in 2 cases a complete, and in 9 cases a partial, remission was achieved in patients with mostly lung and skeletal metastases, with an overall objective response rate of 37%. Mean response duration was 8 months (range 3-18 months). A stable state of the disease lasting 3-18 months was observed in 10 cases. The side effects were only slight and corresponded to toxicity grade I (n = 2), grade II (n = 22) and grade III (n = 6), according to the WHO classification. In conclusion, this triple-drug biochemotherapy demonstrated significant clinical effectiveness comparable with that of an aggressive IL-2 treatment regimen (applied IV), but without its high toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Würzburg.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hofmockel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Theiss
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruss
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frohmüller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D005472:Fluorouracil