title: [Treatment of pulmonary metastases from kidney cell carcinoma with inhalational interleukin-2. 10-year experience Hamburger Unicenter].
abstract: Systemic immunotherapy, notably with interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFNalpha), has yielded a response rate of 10 % to 30 % in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, systemic immunotherapy is limited by severe side effects, and long-lasting response is rare. Tumor palliation and quality-of-life are important end points for evaluating the clinical benefits of immunotherapy. Experimental and clinical treatment models have proved that local IL-2 application is less toxic than systemic treatment and is therapeutically effective. Here we report long-term experience with inhalation IL-2 therapy in 188 patients who had progressive pulmonary metastatic renal cell carcinoma. High-dose inhalation of IL-2 was used with low-dose systemic IL-2 or IFNalpha. Maximal toxicity over the total treatment time was mild, and the low incidence of WHO grade 3 toxicity (24 %) allowed social activities and performance of social roles. Comedication for systemic side effects was required only in half of the patients. Inhaled IL-2 prevented progress of pulmonary metastases in 68 % of patients for a median period of 9.8 months. Median survival was 12.4 months compared with the expected 5.3 months and quality-of-life did not differ substantially from pretreatment status. Local treatment can be applied alone or in combination with systemic therapy and can increase therapeutic efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinzer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huland
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aalamian
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huland
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins