[Adjuvant interferon alpha in renal carcinoma with a high risk of recurrence. Multicenter pilot study]

Twenty-eight consecutive patients submitted to radical nephrectomy for Robson's stage II-III renal cell carcinoma underwent adjuvant recombinant a-2b interferon, 5 MUI s.c. 3 times a week, for 6 consecutive months. Home-feasibility of this therapy resulted easy. The most frequent acute (flu-like syndrome) and late (myalgia, fatigue, anorexia) side effects did not affect normal daily life of patients. Eight (28.5%) patients had WHO grade < or = 2 biochemical and hematological toxicity, that normalized after a reduction or a temporarily suspension of therapy. Twenty-seven patients were evaluable for response. Out of these, 7 (26%) relapsed after a 16 months median follow-up.