Combined interferon alpha with levamisole in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Int Urol Nephrol. 2001;33(3):457-9. doi: 10.1023/a:1019510628249.

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of interferon alpha-2b (IFN-alpha2b) and levamisole treatment regimen in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Seventeen patients with metastatic RCC were treated using recombinant IFN-alpha2b at a dose of 10 MU/m2 body surface subcutaneously three times in a week, for 3 months, with levamisole 50 mg t.d.s orally on days 1-3 on alternate weeks. The mean follow-up period was 10.7 (range 2-23) months. We achieved 1 complete response (lasting for 12+ months) and 1 partial response (lasting for 15 months), for an objective response rate of 11.7%. A further 7 patients (41%) had a stabilization of disease. The overall toxicity was moderate, with mainly grade I or II side effects. Grade III toxicities reported among 3 patients including vomiting (2 patients) and anorexia (1 patient). There was no treatment related death. Although additions of levamisole to IFN-alpha do not result in any significant increase in treatment toxicity, the response rate appears to be no better than IFN-alpha monotherapy reported in the literature.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / adverse effects
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / secondary
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Levamisole / adverse effects
  • Levamisole / therapeutic use*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Levamisole