Thirteen‐year, long‐term efficacy of interferon 2α and interleukin 2‐based home therapy in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

• Published in: Cancer Vol. 95; no. 5; pp. 1045 - 1050
• Main Authors: Atzpodien, Jens, Hoffmann, Reinhard, Franzke, Marcus, Stief, Christian, Wandert, Thomas, Reitz, Martina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.09.2002; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Immunotherapy; interferon α; interleukin 2; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; renal cell carcinoma; subcutaneous; Kidney disease; Antineoplastic agent; Human; Drug combination; Urinary system disease; Carcinoma; Prognosis; Treatment efficiency; Cytokine; Malignant tumor; Long term; Kidney; Treatment; Interferon alpha 2a; Interleukin 2; Immunotherapy; At home; Grawitz tumor; Advanced stage; Subcutaneous administration
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.10783

BACKGROUND The goal of the current report was to demonstrate the long‐term efficacy of outpatient subcutaneous (sc) interferon α (IFN‐α) and sc interleukin 2 (IL‐2)‐based combination regimens in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. METHODS In three consecutive clinical trials, 443 patients received combined sc IFN‐α and sc IL‐2 (n = 97 patients); combined sc IFN‐α, sc IL‐2, and intravenous (iv) 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) (n = 260 patients); or combined sc IFN‐α, sc IL‐2, and iv 5‐FU with oral 13cis‐retinoic acid (n = 86 patients). RESULTS The median overall survival was 21+ months. The 2‐year, 5‐year, and 13‐year survival rates were calculated at 45.26%, 15.96%, and 8.96%, respectively. The median time to disease progression was 6 months. The 2‐year, 5‐year, and 13‐year progression free survival rates were 17.84%, 9.54%, and 9.20%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The current data suggest that combined outpatient sc IFN‐α and sc IL‐2, according to the Atzpodien regimen, achieves long‐term survival benefits in a subset of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, both with and without 13‐cis‐retinoic acid and/or 5‐fluorouracil. Cancer 2002;95:1045–50. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10783 The authors demonstrate long‐term benefits from subcutaneous interferon α and interleukin 2 (IL‐2)‐based home therapy in a subset of patients with metastatic, progressive renal cell carcinoma who were selected on the basis of their good or excellent performance status. The demonstration of augmented benefits from the addition of intravenous 5‐fluorouracil and oral 13‐cis retinoic acid will require further evaluation.