[Interferon-alpha therapy in hypernephroma]

The prognosis of metastatic renal cell cancer is unfavourable as neither chemo-, radiation- nor hormonal therapy achieve tumor remissions in more than 10% of the patients. Several methods of immunotherapy so far employed have not led to improved treatment results. However, with interferon (IFN) therapy--dependent on different prognostic factors--remissions in the range form 15 to 40% have been documented. The combination of IFN-alpha with vinblastine seems, according to some studies, to increase response rates. There is evidence that IFN-alpha in combination with IFN-gamma or interleukin-2 is more effective than monotherapy. New treatment possibilities are the combination of IFN with 5-fluorouracil or new cytokines.