Treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer patients with recombinant subcutaneous human interleukin-2 and interferon-α

Abstract

We treated 17 patients who had progressive metastatic renal carcinoma with a combination of subcutaneous recombinant human interleukin-2 (administered every 12 hours, at 9.0 million IU/m2 on days one and two, followed by 1.8 million IU/m2, five days per week, over six consecutive weeks) and interferon-alpha 2b (given at 5 million U/m2 three times weekly, for six consecutive weeks). Treatment courses were repeated in patients presenting with stable or regressive disease after the six weeks of combination therapy (11 of 14 evaluable). Two and three of 14 evaluable patients achieved complete and partial remissions, respectively. Toxicity of this regimen was moderate, with local inflammation of the injection sites, grade I-II (WHO) fevers, chills, malaise, nausea/vomiting, and anorexia in more than two-thirds of the patients treated.

A phase II study of interferon‐α, interleukin‐2 and 5‐fluorouracil in advanced renal carcinoma: clinical data and laboratory evidence of protease activation

“…We report a Phase II study of the regimen described These include nitric oxide synthesis, production of free radicals and proteases by activated neutrophils and the by Atzpodien et al [19] in patients of poorer performance status. The endpoints in this study were efficacy, toxicity, activation of plasma cascade systems, e.g.…”

“…It is possible that recombinant soluble human complement receptor type-1 [17], and the second, equivalent hypotension and IL-2 may offer a survival advantage to those patients who respond, as the small percentage of patients who lower complement activation in six patients receiving high-dose IL-2 with C1 esterase inhibitor when compared enter a complete remission on IL-2 are reported to have a long progression-free and overall survival [6]. A similar largest series was reported by Atzpodien et al and described limited toxicity with a relatively high response comparison of patients treated with IFN-a or with chemotherapy suggests a survival benefit for this cytokine rate of 36% [19]. large cohort of patients treated with IL-2 in Europe, there was a survival benefit when compared to a matched Out-patient-based treatments combining IL-2 and IFN-a have been developed in several centres.…”

Therapeutic approaches in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

“…Another 15 patients (37%) were stable throughout therapy. The overall survival was 24 months [99]. The high response rates associated with this triple therapy should be regarded as the standard, especially as it is applicable in an outpatient setting.…”

“…Atzpodien et al [99,100] developed a combined scheme using interleukin-2 and interferon-a subcutaneously, combined with 5-fluorouracil. Of 41 patients treated with this combination there were seven complete (17%) and nine partial responses (22%), with an overall objective response rate of 39%.…”

Cytokine-Based Immunotherapy for Advanced Kidney Cancer: Past Results and Future Perspectives in the Era of Molecularly Targeted Agents

“…In the early 1990s, Jens Atzpodien was the first to propose the use of s.c. IL-2 for the treatment of kidney cancer [39,40]. Such a route of administration allowed kidney cancer patients to be treated at their own homes, caused extremely low toxicities, and yielded response rates similar to those observed with more toxic regimens, at least in phase II studies.…”