2ND-LINE THERAPY WITH INTERFERON-ALPHA PLUS VINBLASTINE IN METASTATICRENAL-CELL CANCER-PATIENTS PROGRESSED UNDER INTERLEUKIN-2 SUBCUTANEOUS IMMUNOTHERAPY

Aims and background: Interferon (IFN) +/- vinblastine (VNB) has appear ed to be effective as first-line therapy of metastatic renal cell canc er. This study was performed to establish the efficacy of IFN plus VNB in metastatic RCC previously treated with interleukin-2 (IL-2). Metho ds: The study included 14 metastatic renal cell cancer patients who di d not respond to IL-2 subcutaneous therapy or who relapsed after initi al response or stable disease. IFN-alpha 2a was given subcutaneously a t 3 million U thrice a week in association with VNB (0.1 mg/kg i.v. ev ery 21 days) until progression or toxicity. Patients were considered a s evaluable when they were treated for at least 1 month. Results: Eval uable patients were 13/14. No patient had a complete response. Partial response was achieved in 2/13 (15%) patients. Stable disease was seen in 5/13 patients, and the last 6 progressed. Conclusions: This study, by showing a tumor response rate comparable to that reported with fir st-line therapy, suggests that previous IL-2 immunotherapy does not in fluence negatively the efficacy of IFN + VNB in metastatic renal cell cancer.