[Clinical study of immunotherapy with interferon alpha and gamma in metastatic renal cell carcinoma]

A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with interferon (IFN) alpha and gamma in 16 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma whom we observed between August 1986 and June 1992. Eight patients had already had stage IV disease when they were seen first and five of them underwent nephrectomy. The other eight patients developed metastases after nephrectomy. The time to occurrence of the metastasis was 4-110 months. The dosage of the regimen was IFN alpha, 3 x 10(6) U, intramuscularly for 7 consecutive days at weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7 and IFN gamma, 6 x 10(6) JRU by intravenous drip on days 2, 4 and 6 of weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8. At and after week 9, the combined use of IFN alpha, 3 x 10(6) U, and IFN gamma, 1-6 x 10(6) JRU, was continued at least on a once-a-week basis as maintenance therapy as long as possible. The effect was evaluated as PR in 2 patients, MR in 2, NC in 3 and PD in 9. The response rate was 12.5% and the efficacy rate including MR was 25%. The time to onset of the effect was 8-24 weeks. Of the four patients showing MR or better responses, three had stage IV disease and one had metastatic disease after the operation. The duration of effect was 2-8 months. Side effects were fever, general malaise, anorexia, leukocytopenia and impaired liver function, and were noted frequently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)