Standard interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha immunotherapy versus an IL-2 and 4-epirubicin immuno-chemotherapeutic association in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) has a well-documented anti-tumor activity against RCC and has demonstrated a synergistic anti-tumor activity between doxorubicin and IL-2, thus providing better survival. This study investigated the toxicity and efficacy of the association between doxorubicin and IL-2, and interferon-alpha, and the immuno-chemotherapeutic association with IL-2 and 4-Epirubicin.


METHODS
Patients with histologic evidence of metastatic or advanced RCC were randomized to receive either IL-2 + IFN-alpha (Arm A) or IL-2 + 4-Epi (Arm B). Arm A patients received IFN-alpha subcutaneously at doses of 3 million UI on days 1, 3 and 5 for 6 weeks. Arm B patients received 4-EPI at doses of 25 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and 36. Treatment cycles were repeated at 10 week intervals.


RESULTS
Of 38 evaluable patients, we observed 2 complete responses, 2 partial responses, 1 minimal response, 1 mixed response, 21 stationary disease and 11 disease progressions. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the two groups. However in arm B, the median overall survival for responding patients was better than that of patients who experienced a disease progression. Performance status was the only predictive prognostic factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Our analysis confirms the low response rate associated with IL-2 treatments but seems to indicate a role of anthracycline in improving the survival of responding patients with an acceptable toxicity.
Department of Medicine, Oncology Institute, Bari, Italy.
E
E
Naglieri
V
V
Gebbia
E
E
Durini
G
G
Lelli
I
I
Abbate
F P
FP
Selvaggi
P
P
Di Tonno
G
G
Colucci
D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015251:Epirubicin