title: A phase-II study of pegylated interferon alfa-2b for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and removal of the primary tumor.
abstract: Twenty-two patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and removal of the primary tumor were treated with subcutaneous pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) to evaluate toxicity and efficacy. Start dose was 3.0 microg/kg/week, escalated to 6.0 microg/kg/week. After 2 months, therapy was extended in case of response or stable disease (SD) until progressive disease (PD) or relapse for a maximum of 2 years. National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria (NCI-CTC) were monitored every 2-4 weeks. After 2 months, nine patients did not continue (8 PD, 1 SD with grade 4 CTC) and 13 extended treatment [three partial response (PR), 10 SD], of these, 11 progressed. One patient with PR developed a durable complete response later. Overall response rate was 13.6% (3/22). Median overall survival is 13 months (range 3-35 months). Dosage was escalated to 6 microg/kg/week in three patients. NCI-CTC grade 2 and 3 required dose attenuation in 12 patients during escalation, and reduction in 10 during the trial. Three patients discontinued because of grade 4 CTC (two fatigue, one hyperglycemia). Fatigue was the major dose-limiting toxicity. These results suggest an efficacy and toxicity of PEG-Intron comparable to standard interferon alfa-2b in patients with mRCC and removal of the primary tumor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.bex@nki.nl
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bex
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mallo
authors.forename: Martijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerst
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haanen
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horenblas
authors.forename: Gijsbert C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Gast
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b