ACTUALITIES ON IMMUNOTHERAPY IN METASTATI C RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA

Nearly 2.500 new cases of metastatic renal cell carcinoma are diagnose d in France every year. Only immunotherapy has demonstrated some thera peutic responses, owing to antitumoral activity of T lymphocytes, CDS and also CD4. This review illustrates results from different therapeut ic regimen with intrferon alpha, interleukin-2 (intravenous or subcuta neous), alone or in association, and adoptive immunotherapy with in vi tro activated lymphocytes. Response rates ranged from 15 to 30 %, with a 10 % complete response rate. High level of serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein predicted unfavorable evolution and lack of respons e to immunotherapy. Improvement in the response rate needs the selecti on of patients who are potentially responder and new therapeutic assoc iation, especially interleukin-2, interferon a and 5-fluoro-uracil.