title: Evolving role of pegylated interferons in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Interferon (IFN)-alpha has demonstrated antitumor activity in a variety of solid and hematologic malignancies, including metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Pegylation, the process of combining a polyethylene glycol moiety to a biologic protein, substantially changes the pharmacokinetic profile of a drug, resulting in prolongation in half-life, increased area under the curve and, in some cases, improved efficacy. Pegylated IFN-alpha has been evaluated in chronic hepatitis C, chronic myelogenous leukemia and most recently in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Registrational studies of pegylated IFN-alpha2a (PEGASYS) and pegylated IFN-alpha2b (PEG Intron) in patients with hepatitis C demonstrated greater efficacy with similar safety and tolerability to nonpegylated IFNs, with the advantage of less frequent administration. Studies evaluating these agents in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and other cancers are ongoing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Toni K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Choueiri
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hutson
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bukowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a