Periodate and recombinant interleukin-2-activated autologous leukocytes can induce regression of metastases of renal cancer.

Overview

We present the results of a pilot study that determined the effects of both intermittent injections of periodate and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-activated leukocytes and continuous infusions of low doses of rIL-2 on metastases of nine patients with stage IV renal cancer. Four patients experienced regressions, two patients stabilized, and only three patients did not respond. The responses of individual lesions in six patients were heterogeneous with regard to both the degree (ranging from cessation of growth to regression to undetectability) and the duration (ranging from less than 3 to up to 8 months). Survival times from the time of diagnosis and from the time of start of the protocol treatment ranged from 12 to 20 months and 6 to 12 months, respectively, for three patients who expired and from 10+ to 28+ months and 6+ to 12+ months, respectively, for six patients who are alive. Only one patient experienced a grade 4 toxicity (transient renal failure requiring hemodialysis). All other toxicities (grades 1-3) were easily controlled and resolved completely after 7 days. This pilot study deserves clinical testing on a larger scale, since it combines regression inductions in a hitherto treatment-resistant cancer with little complicating toxicity.