These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: A phase II study of subcutaneous low-dose interleukin-2 plus erythropoietin in metastatic renal cell carcinoma progressing on interleukin-2 alone.
    Author: Lissoni P, Rovelli F, Baiocco N, Tangini G, Fumagalli L.
    Journal: Anticancer Res; 2001; 21(1B):777-9. PubMed ID: 11299843.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: The activation of angiogenesis has been proven to suppress the anti-cancer immunity. The evidence of abnormally high pretreatment blood levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is the main angiogenic factor, has appeared to predict resistance to IL-2 immunotherapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Therefore, the control of VEGF secretion could influence the efficacy of IL-2. Recent data suggest that erythropoietin (EPO) may modulate VEGF secretion and IL-2 biological activity. On this basis, a study was planned with subcutaneous (s.c.) low-dose IL-2 plus EPO in metastatic RCC, which had progressed on IL-2 alone (6 million IU/day for 6 days/week for 4 weeks). METHODS: Patients received IL-2 at the same dose as the previous cycle, plus EPO (10,000 3 times/week until the end of IL-2 therapy. Serum levels of VEGF were measured by enzyme immunoassay on venous blood samples collected at weekly intervals. The study included 12 evaluable metastatic RCC patients. RESULTS: The treatment was well-tolerated and most patients referred a relief of IL-2-induced asthenia. A partial response (PR) and 4 stable diseases (SD) were achieved on IL-2 plus EPO, whereas the other 7 patients had a progressive disease (PD). Hemoglobin mean levels were significantly higher on IL-2 plus EPO than during the previous therapy with IL-2 alone in the same patients. In the same way, mean lymphocyte increase was higher on IL-2 plus EPO than on IL-2 alone, even though this difference was not significant. Finally, VEGF increase was significantly lower on IL-2 plus EPO than during IL-2 alone. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study shows that the concomitant administration of EPO may allow a control of the neoplastic growth in advanced cancer patients progressing on IL-2 alone, reduce the subjective toxicity, prevent hemoglobin decrease and counteract IL-2-related VEGF increase.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]