Clinical and in vitro response to 13-cis-retinoic acid in interferon-alpha resistant renal cell carcinoma.
Retinoids are known to control many important biological processes, including differentiation, morphogenesis, growth and tissue homeostasis. More recently, clinical and pre-clinical results provide evidence for an antiproliferative effect of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13cRA) in interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treated renal cell carcinoma patients. The manner in which 13cRA augments antitumor effects and modulates biologic and clinical responses of renal cell carcinoma to IFN-alpha remains elusive. In the present study, we report induction of apoptosis and objective tumor regression in response to 13cRA in advanced renal cell carcinoma patients refractory to IFN-alpha. Among 21 patients treated there were one complete and four partial remissions (objective response rate, 24%; median response duration 8+ months). Preliminary evidence suggests that 13cRA acid may reverse IFN-alpha resistance in renal cell carcinoma.
Buer
J
J
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
Probst
M
M
Duensing
S
S
Köditz
H
H
Franzke
A
A
Dallmann
I
I
Ganser
A
A
Atzpodien
J
J
D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015474:Isotretinoin