title: Recombinant interferon-alpha 2b and megestrol acetate in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Fifteen patients with histologically proven metastatic or unresectable renal cell carcinoma were enrolled for a phase II trial of Interferon-alpha 2b (> or = 6 x 10(6) U/m2) plus megestrol acetate (160 mg/day). A response rate of 14.3 per cent was achieved in this study. We observed weight gain (median 3.2 kilogram; range 1.1 to 6.9) in 5 patients, and stable weight in 5 of the 14 patients who completed the protocol. Weight gain occurred regardless of extent of metastasis or response to interferon. Our data suggest a possible role for megestrol acetate in alleviating anorexia and weight loss in patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing interferon treatment. Further clinical trials are clearly warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Voravud
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sriuranpong
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lertsaguansinchai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019290:Megestrol Acetate