title: Low-dose cyclophosphamide and continuous-infusion interleukin-2 with famotidine in previously treated metastatic melanoma or kidney cancer.
abstract: The cytotoxic ability of T-cells against tumor cells may be increased by interleukin (IL)-2. The infiltration of tumors by these cytotoxic T-cells may be enhanced by low-dose cyclophosphamide, which may also serve to deplete regulatory T-cells. Famotidine may increase IL-2 internalization by the IL-2 receptor on T-lymphocytes. We have treated 14 patients with either metastatic melanoma or kidney cancer, using CY 350 mg/M(2) intravenously (i.v.) over 1 hour followed by a continuous infusion IL-2 9 MIU/M(2)/24 hours for 72 hours and famotidine 20 mg i.v. twice per day. All patients had received prior systemic therapy. Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks until disease progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 with melanoma, 8 males, median age, 64, median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, 1; most common metastatic sites: lungs, lymph nodes, bone, and liver. Median number of cycles received=2 (range, 2-4). Most common toxicities were fever, nausea/emesis, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, hyponatremia, and rigors. All patients were treated on an oncology inpatient unit. One (1) patient with kidney cancer has had a partial response in lung and lymph nodes for 5 months, while 1 patient with melanoma had a partial response in pulmonary metastases. Cyclophosphamide and IL-2 with famotidine has evidence of antitumor activity in previously treated kidney cancer and melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. quanw@ecu.edu
authors.forename: Walter D Y
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Francine M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015738:Famotidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015738:Famotidine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide