title: Subcutaneous administration of interferon alpha and gamma in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is relatively resistant to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Response and survival of treatment with Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were evaluated in patients with metastatic RCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients with confirmed RCC were included in this study. Fifteen of 31 patients received injection of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma three times a week. IFN-gamma was infused subcutaneously by microinfusion pump. Sixteen received IFN-alpha alone more than three times a week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 20.0% in the IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma group, and 12.5% in the IFN-alpha alone group. Long lasting stabilization of the disease (more than; 12 months) was seen in 92.3% of CR, PR or SD in the IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma group, as compared with 71.4% in the IFN-alpha alone group. Both groups differed significantly in survival rate from the first treatment with IFN (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A long lasting stabilization of the disease can be expected in patients who were treated with our regimen of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishikido
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matsuya
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanetake
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma