title: Interferon-α-based immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients with the primary tumor in situ.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We reviewed the outcomes of metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients with the primary tumor in situ who initially underwent interferon-α-based immunotherapy to evaluate the effect of this therapy on metastatic sites as well as primary kidney tumor and survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients, for whom upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy was considered to be inappropriate because of poor performance status and far-advanced disease, were the subject of the present study. Tumor response and reduction in the size of metastatic sites and primary kidney tumor were assessed. Overall survival distributions were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with the significance determined using the log-rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partial response was observed in 11 patients, yielding an overall response rate of 35%. Seventeen patients had regression or stabilization of metastatic sites, while progression of metastatic sites was observed in the remaining 14 patients. Regarding the maximum response of primary kidney tumor, a reduction in kidney primary tumor size was observed in 42% of the patients and the mean reduction rate in these patients was 18.2% (range: 3-36%). Furthermore, the reduction in the size of metastatic sites was significantly associated with that in the size of primary kidney tumor (R(2)= 0.432, P< 0.0001). The median survival for the 31 patients was 17 months. The median survival was 42 months in patients with regression or stabilization of metastatic sites and 7 months in those without (P< 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that metastatic sites as well as primary kidney tumor respond to interferon-α-based immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients with primary tumor in situ.
authors: Department of Urology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. nozomis@mbj.nifty.com
authors: Nobuo
authors: N
authors: Shinohara
authors: Takashige
authors: T
authors: Abe
authors: Ataru
authors: A
authors: Sazawa
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Maruyama
authors: Junri
authors: J
authors: Shindo
authors: Soshu
authors: S
authors: Sato
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Suzuki
authors: Katsuya
authors: K
authors: Nonomura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009392:Nephrectomy; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002927:Cimetidine; D000077239:Meloxicam