Abstract
From January 1985 to December 1987, 26 patients (20 men, 6 women, median age 62 years, range 26–76 years) with advanced renal cell carcinoma were included in the study. In 8 cases (6 patients no surgery, 2 patients with retroperitoneal node-residual disease after nephrectomy) metastases were identified at initial diagnosis, and in the remaining 18 the occurrence of metastases was delayed by a mean disease-free interval of 12 months after radical nephrectomy. Recombinant interferon alpha-2 was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 9 milion IU three times a week for a period of at least six months. Informed consent was obtained from all patients before starting therapy. No patients achieved complete regression of tumors; two cases showed a partial response (one relapsed six months later, while in the other response continues at 38 months after discontinuation of therapy); 10 patients showed stabilization of disease for 6–10 months and in 14 the disease progressed immediately. In our experience immunotherapy with recombinant interferon alpha-2 did not significantly change the natural history of renal cell carcinoma.
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