A phase II study of gemcitabine at fixed infusion rate of 10 mg/m2/min with or without immunotherapy in advanced renal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Advanced renal cancer remains a challenge for oncologists since no treatment other than surgery has demonstrated a clear survival advantage.


METHODS
Gemcitabine was given to suitable patients at a fixed infusion rate of 10 mg/m2/min. Eighteen patients received concomitant immunotherapy, mostly low doses of interleukin 2 (IL2).


RESULTS
Thirty patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 14% (22% in the subset of patients treated with both chemotherapy and immunotherapy) with a median progression-free survival time of 4.1 + months. Toxicity was not mild, mostly fatigue, nausea and anaemia, even though not life threatening.


CONCLUSIONS
Gemcitabine at the fixed infusion rate of 10 mg/m2/min with concomitant low doses of IL2 could be useful in the palliative treatment of symptomatic patients with renal carcinoma progressing after tyrosine kinases inhibitor.
Zustovich
Fable
F
Oncologia Medica 1, IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy. fable.zustovich@ioveneto.it
Cartei
Giuseppe
G
Pastorelli
Davide
D
Nicoletto
Ornella
O
Gottardo
Fedra
F
De Zorzi
Luca
L
Dal Bianco
Massimo
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine