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Further experience with recombinant interferon alfa‐2a with vinblastine in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A progress report
Author(s) -
Fosså S. D.,
De Garis S. T.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910390708
Subject(s) - vinblastine , medicine , renal cell carcinoma , toxicity , alpha interferon , gastroenterology , interferon alfa , chemotherapy , urology , interferon , surgery , immunology
Abstract Thirty‐three patients with measurable metastatic renal cell carcinoma were entered into 2 consecutive phase II protocols using interferon alfa‐2a. In protocol 1, 20 patients were treated with interferon alfa‐2a at a dose of 36 × 10 6 IU i.m. t.i.w. Vinblastine was also given to 18 of these patients at a dose of 0.10–0.15 mg/kg i.v. every 2‐3 weeks, depending on the blood cell count. In protocol 2, 13 patients received interferon alfa‐2a at a dose of 18 × 10 6 IU i.m. t.i.w. with stepwise dose escalations of 3 × 10 6 IU being given every 2 weeks to 8 patients. Vinblastine, at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, was also given to 12 patients in protocol 2. Partial responses were seen in a total of 9 evaluable patients (lung, 5; lymph nodes, 2; liver, 1; and bone, 1), comprising 6 of 18 from protocol 1 and 3 of 13 from protocol 2. The median response duration was 89 days (range 91–540). No clinical parameter could be identified which was predictive for response. The subjective toxicity (flu‐like symptoms and muscle pain) was considerable and necessitated dose reduction in 19 patients from protocol 1. The dose schedule of protocol 2 was tolerated better even after slight dose escalation. The considerable interpatient variation in toxicity, however, made any demonstration of a clear dose‐toxicity relationship impossible. High dose interferon treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma combined with vinblastine results in a 33% response rate (95% confidence interval: 11–55%). Moderate doses of interferon and vinblastine result in a 23% response rate (95% confidence interval: 0–46%). The role of vinblastine remains to be determined.