Study Confirms Clinical Benefit for Interleukin-2 Immunotherapy in Patients With Advanced Kidney Cancer
A retrospective study published online ahead of print in Urology by researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute found that patients with metastatic kidney cancer—even those with chronic renal insufficiency—can tolerate and benefit from high-dose interleukin-2 (HDIL-2) immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy May Be an Option for More Patients
Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma face a poor prognosis; currently, 30% of patients already have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis, according to national data. HDIL-2 therapy, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992, is a type of biologic treatment that manipulates the immune system to attack cancer cells. Treatment with high doses of a laboratory-made interleukin activates the body’s production of T-cells, natural killer cells, and antibodies that fight the cancer.
Because the therapy produces potentially dangerous side effects such as rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and kidney dysfunction, the treatment is used only in a carefully controlled hospital setting in select patients who are otherwise healthy enough to tolerate it. The Roswell Park study, however, shows that more patients than previously thought may be good candidates for this complex and aggressive therapy.
Study Details
In their study, the investigators analyzed medical records from 88 kidney cancer patients with metastatic disease who were treated with HDIL-2 therapy at Roswell Park between 2004 and 2011. They found that the treatment was well tolerated, even among patients with pre-existing renal impairment; caused no long-term renal toxicity; and resulted in impressive clinical responses. Four patients had a complete response, 10 had a partial response, and 28 had stable disease.
The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 8.6 and 35.5 months, respectively. The estimated 2-year overall survival was 60.6%. These results were similar to those of other recent IL-2 studies, but are significant because the investigators demonstrated an effective approach for managing toxicities.
HDIL-2 remains the only FDA-approved treatment option with durable remissions and a proven track record for cure. A partial response to treatment is considered significant because the effect can be long-lasting.
“The data tells us that in our specialized setting, we can safely provide this treatment to more patients, even those with chronic renal insufficiency,” said lead author Thomas Schwaab, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Urology and Immunology. “Our clinical results continue to be impressive in this otherwise lethal disease.”
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
