title: Long-term maintenance therapy in interferon-alpha2a/interleukin-2-pretreated advanced renal-cell carcinoma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this paper, we report on the long-term therapeutic efficacy of maintenance treatment in 12 advanced renal carcinoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following prior systemic treatment with 8-week cycles of subcutaneous interferon- alpha2a (s.c. IFN-alpha2a) and subcutaneous interleukin-2 (s.c. IL-2)-based immunotherapy (5-day standard Atzpodien regimen), patients received prolonged maintenance treatment consisting of intermittent s.c. IFN-alpha2a and s.c. IL-2, combined with long-term daily peroral 13-cis-retinoic acid (p.o. 13cRA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients received a mean of 10 months (range, 0-27 months) of maintenance treatment. Median progression-free survival was calculated at 6 months (range, 0-61 months), and median overall suvival was 22 months (range, 2-65 months) from the start of maintenance therapy. Of 12 patients, 5 were still alive (> or = 60 months) and 2 patients remained progression-free (61 months) at last follow-up. Maintenance treatment was well or moderately tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maintenance treatment with s.c. IL-2/s.c. INF-alpha2a/p.o. 13-cRA may support long-term efficacy of prior s.c. IL-2/s.c. INF-alpha2a-based therapy in advanced renal carcinoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Fachklinik Hornheide an der Universität Münster, Internistische Onkologie, Münster, Germany. SekrProfAtzpodien@yahoo.de
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atzpodien
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reitz
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins