Long-term results in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with interferon with or without vinblastine

Summary From 1983 to 1987, recombinant interferon-alpha (IFN, 18–36×10⁶ units i.m.) with (57 patients) or without (30 patients) vinblastine (VB) was given to 87 patients with measurable metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). Of the 80 evaluable patients, 17 patients achieved an objective response (2 complete response, 15 partial response). Four additional patients were rendered tumour-free by surgery or radiotherapy following IFN treatment. The combination of IFN plus VB did not seem to be more effective than IFN alone. The 5-year survival for all 87 patients was 14.1%, which was superior to that of a historical control group of Phase II patients who received chemotherapy (P=0.02). IFN is today's drug of choice in routine treatment of patients with MRCC who are candidates for systemic therapy. Its role in the prolongation of life compared with no treatment, chemotherapy, or other biological response modifiers has to be proven in randomized trials.