Thirteen-year, long-term efficacy of interferon 2alpha and interleukin 2-based home therapy in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The goal of the current report was to demonstrate the long-term efficacy of outpatient subcutaneous (sc) interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and sc interleukin 2 (IL-2)-based combination regimens in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.


METHODS
In three consecutive clinical trials, 443 patients received combined sc IFN-alpha and sc IL-2 (n = 97 patients); combined sc IFN-alpha, sc IL-2, and intravenous (iv) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (n = 260 patients); or combined sc IFN-alpha, sc IL-2, and iv 5-FU with oral 13cis-retinoic acid (n = 86 patients).


RESULTS
The median overall survival was 21+ months. The 2-year, 5-year, and 13-year survival rates were calculated at 45.26%, 15.96%, and 8.96%, respectively. The median time to disease progression was 6 months. The 2-year, 5-year, and 13-year progression free survival rates were 17.84%, 9.54%, and 9.20%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The current data suggest that combined outpatient sc IFN-alpha and sc IL-2, according to the Atzpodien regimen, achieves long-term survival benefits in a subset of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, both with and without 13-cis-retinoic acid and/or 5-fluorouracil.
Atzpodien
Jens
J
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany. sekrprofatzpodien@yahoo.de
Hoffmann
Reinhard
R
Franzke
Marcus
M
Stief
Christian
C
Wandert
Thomas
T
Reitz
Martina
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010045:Outpatients; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015474:Isotretinoin; D005472:Fluorouracil