[Effectiveness and side effects of recombinant alpha-2a interferon in patients with metastatic hypernephroma]

Eighteen patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were treated with recombinant interferon alpha-2a (18 million IU s.c. three times a week). 9 patients had received prior hormonal therapy (tamoxifen). On entering the therapeutic schedule with recombinant interferon alpha-2a, all patients had progressive disease with multiple metastases. Flu-like symptoms occurred in general; they were severe in 9 cases. An impairment of the liver was shown by a rise of SGOT/SGPT and alkaline phosphatase in 2 patients, the gamma-GT was raised in 7 patients. The kidney function worsened in 3 cases. A fall in blood cell counts was seen in 8 cases. Five patients developed a transient stomatitis. Five patients (5/18) showed stable disease with the longest response duration of 17 months. One patient showed a complete remission 5 months after starting therapy for a duration of 7 months until now. Both the limited benefit from this treatment as well as some severe side effects indicate the need for further special evaluation and possible improvements of this therapeutic approach.