SUBCUTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION OF INTERLEUKIN-2 IN TREATMENT OF PATIENTSWITH METASTATIC RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA - 3-YEAR RESULTS OF SCAPP-I TRIAL

We report a french experience of subcutaneous administration of interl eukin-2 in treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Thirty-nine patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were includ ed in the study. During the 10-week induction period, interleukin-2 wa s administrated subcutaneously 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The weekly d osage were 90 MIU during weeks 1 and 6; 63 MIU during weeks 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. After evaluation, responders and patients with stable disease received maintenance treatment wich was discontinued upon the appeara nce of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. During the mainte nance period interleukin-2 was administred 5 days a week for 4 weeks f ollowed by a 2-week rest period. The weekly dosages were 90 MIU in wee k I and 63 MIU in weeks 2 to 4. Ater completion of induction treatment , 7 of 39 evaluable patients (18%) had objective responses with I comp lete response. A diminution of dose or interruption of treatment occur red with 7 patients because severe toxicity. Other systemic side effec ts in the remaining patients were acceptable. Seventeen patients recei ved maintenance treatment The median follow-up of all the patients inc luded was 21 months. The 1, 2 and 3 years survivals were 64%, 33% and 22% respectively. This multicentric trial confirms the efficacity of s ubcutaneously-administred interleukin-2 in patients with metastatic re nal cell carcinoma in terms of both response rate and survival. Unfort unately, increasing total doses of administrated interleukin-2 does no r seem to increase efficacity according to response rate, but is more toxic.