LOW DOSE CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE, ALPHA-INTERFERON AND CONTINUOUS INFUSIONS OF INTERLEUKIN-2 IN ADVANCED RENAL CELL CARCINOMA

Pretreatment with a low dose of cyclophosphamide (CY) has been claimed to inhibit suppressor functions and augment various immune functions. A combination of a low dose of CY, α-interferon (IFN-α) and continuous infusion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) was used to treat patients with advanced renal cell cancer (RCC) (stage IV). Sixteen patients received four cycles consisting of CY (500 mg m-2) three days prior to daily i.m. injections of α-IFN (3 x 106 U), and continuous infusion of 18 xlO IU rIL-2 for five days. The cycle interval was three weeks. Two patients had partial response (13%) (26+ and 12+ months), two had a minor response (9+ and 4 months), and three patients achieved stable disease (19+, 14+ and 8+ months). No patients required intensive care.