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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Ex vivo Expansion of Tumor-reactive T Cells by Means of Bryostatin 1/Ionomycin and the Common Gamma Chain Cytokines Formulation
Published on: January 14, 2011
Thirteen-year, long-term efficacy of interferon 2alpha and interleukin 2-based home therapy in patients with advanced
Jens Atzpodien1, Reinhard Hoffmann, Marcus Franzke
1Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany. sekrprofatzpodien@yahoo.de
Background:
The goal of the current report was to demonstrate the long-term efficacy of outpatient subcutaneous (sc) interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) 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-alpha and sc IL-2 (n = 97 patients); combined sc IFN-alpha, sc IL-2, and intravenous (iv) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (n = 260 patients); or combined sc IFN-alpha, 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-alpha 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.
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