[The therapy of renal cell carcinoma with human lymphoblastoid interferon]

We employed human lymphoblastoid interferon (HLBI) in the treatment of 4 cases of renal carcinoma with pulmonary metastases. All of the cases were males aged 58 to 62. On initial examination, it was revealed that all 4 cases already had multiple metastatic lesions in the lung as well as in other organs such as brain and bone. HLBI was injected i.m. daily at a dosage of 6 X 10(6) units. Treatment was continued for 33 to 119 days, with the total dose being 198 X 10(6) units to 714 X 10(6) units. As to tumor response, minor response was obtained in 1 case, no change in 2 cases, and progressive disease in 1 case. In the case in which minor response was obtained, the size of the pulmonary metastases had reduced by 30% after 8 weeks of treatment with HLBI. As side effects, we observed fever in all cases, and also, anorexia, general malaise, asthenia, and myelosuppression. However, none of these symptoms were serious enough to require discontinuation of HLBI medication. From the results obtained in our own cases, we believe that HLBI may become a new antitumor agent effective for renal cell carcinoma.