by Annie Deck-Miller
(Medical Xpress)—A retrospective study published online ahead of print in the medical journal Urology by a physician team from Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) found that patients with metastatic kidney cancer—even those with chronic renal insufficiency—can tolerate and benefit from a treatment called high-dose interleukin-2 (HDIL-2) immunotherapy.
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. Interleukins are proteins produced by the body's white blood cells to defend against bacteria, viruses and other foreign invaders. Treating 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 poses 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.
In their study, the RPCI team analyzed medical records from 88 kidney cancer patients with metastatic disease who were treated with HDIL-2 therapy at RPCI 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 estimated two-year overall survival was 60.6%. These results were similar to those of other recent IL-2 studies, but are significant because the RPCI team 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," says 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."
RPCI's inpatient IL-2 clinic is one of the few high-volume centers for this therapy in the nation. A multidisciplinary team of experts delivers the treatment under careful monitoring, pre-emptive care and timely treatment for side effects.
Explore further: Predicting outcome for high-dose IL-2 therapy in cancer patients
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Predicting outcome for high-dose IL-2 therapy in cancer patients
Dec 02, 2013
One of the most potent forms of immunotherapy for patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma is high-dose (HD) bolus IL-2 therapy. Approximately 15% of patients respond to HD IL-2 therapy, with almost 5% going ...
Green light for Phase II clinical trial using interstitial photodynamic therapy
Apr 02, 2014
Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to enroll patients in a phase II clinical trial that will use a unique and highly precise method of delivering interstitial ...
Moffitt Cancer Center begins Phase I clinical trial of new immunotherapy
Apr 10, 2014
Moffitt Cancer Center has initiated a phase I clinical trial for a new immunotherapy drug, ID-G305, made by Immune Design. Immunotherapy is a treatment option that uses a person's own immune system to fight cancer. It has ...
Bioinformatics approach helps researchers find new uses for old drug
May 05, 2014
Developing and testing a new anti-cancer drug can cost billions of dollars and take many years of research. Finding an effective anti-cancer medication from the pool of drugs already approved for the treatment of other medical ...
Sorafenib shows success in advanced differentiated thyroid cancer patients
Apr 25, 2014
(Medical Xpress)—The kidney and liver cancer drug sorafenib holds metastatic thyroid cancer at bay for nearly twice as long as a placebo, according to a new study from researchers in the Abramson Cancer Center at the University ...
Recommended for you
Researchers discover 'bad' cholesterol contributes to cancer spread in the body
2 hours ago
(Medical Xpress)—In a world-first, University of Sydney researchers have discovered one of the main reasons behind why cancer spreads throughout the body - the help of 'bad' cholesterol.
A molecular target may lead to drug to fight leukaemia
2 hours ago
(Medical Xpress)—A molecular 'target' that could lead to a drug to fight leukaemia is in the sights of a team of University of Queensland researchers.
iPhone app offers quick and inexpensive melanoma screening
19 hours ago
The idea sounds simple: Take a photo of a suspicious mole or lesion with your phone, run it through an embedded software program and find out within a few seconds if it is likely to be cancerous.
Having eczema may reduce your risk of skin cancer
May 06, 2014
Eczema caused by defects in the skin could reduce the risk of developing skin cancer, according to new research by King's College London. The immune response triggered by eczema could help prevent tumour ...
Experts issue treatment guidelines for aggressive form of breast cancer
May 05, 2014
(HealthDay)—Two sets of guidelines for treating patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer have been released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Liver cancer screening highly beneficial for people with cirrhosis
May 05, 2014
Liver cancer survival rates could be improved if more people with cirrhosis are screened for tumors using inexpensive ultrasound scans and blood tests, according to a review by doctors at UT Southwestern ...
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
by Annie Deck-Miller
(Medical Xpress)—A retrospective study published online ahead of print in the medical journal Urology by a physician team from Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) found that patients with metastatic kidney cancer—even those with chronic renal insufficiency—can tolerate and benefit from a treatment called high-dose interleukin-2 (HDIL-2) immunotherapy.
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. Interleukins are proteins produced by the body's white blood cells to defend against bacteria, viruses and other foreign invaders. Treating 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 poses 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.
In their study, the RPCI team analyzed medical records from 88 kidney cancer patients with metastatic disease who were treated with HDIL-2 therapy at RPCI 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 estimated two-year overall survival was 60.6%. These results were similar to those of other recent IL-2 studies, but are significant because the RPCI team 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," says 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."
RPCI's inpatient IL-2 clinic is one of the few high-volume centers for this therapy in the nation. A multidisciplinary team of experts delivers the treatment under careful monitoring, pre-emptive care and timely treatment for side effects.
Explore further: Predicting outcome for high-dose IL-2 therapy in cancer patients
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Predicting outcome for high-dose IL-2 therapy in cancer patients
Dec 02, 2013
One of the most potent forms of immunotherapy for patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma is high-dose (HD) bolus IL-2 therapy. Approximately 15% of patients respond to HD IL-2 therapy, with almost 5% going ...
Green light for Phase II clinical trial using interstitial photodynamic therapy
Apr 02, 2014
Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to enroll patients in a phase II clinical trial that will use a unique and highly precise method of delivering interstitial ...
Moffitt Cancer Center begins Phase I clinical trial of new immunotherapy
Apr 10, 2014
Moffitt Cancer Center has initiated a phase I clinical trial for a new immunotherapy drug, ID-G305, made by Immune Design. Immunotherapy is a treatment option that uses a person's own immune system to fight cancer. It has ...
Bioinformatics approach helps researchers find new uses for old drug
May 05, 2014
Developing and testing a new anti-cancer drug can cost billions of dollars and take many years of research. Finding an effective anti-cancer medication from the pool of drugs already approved for the treatment of other medical ...
Sorafenib shows success in advanced differentiated thyroid cancer patients
Apr 25, 2014
(Medical Xpress)—The kidney and liver cancer drug sorafenib holds metastatic thyroid cancer at bay for nearly twice as long as a placebo, according to a new study from researchers in the Abramson Cancer Center at the University ...
Recommended for you
Researchers discover 'bad' cholesterol contributes to cancer spread in the body
2 hours ago
(Medical Xpress)—In a world-first, University of Sydney researchers have discovered one of the main reasons behind why cancer spreads throughout the body - the help of 'bad' cholesterol.
A molecular target may lead to drug to fight leukaemia
2 hours ago
(Medical Xpress)—A molecular 'target' that could lead to a drug to fight leukaemia is in the sights of a team of University of Queensland researchers.
iPhone app offers quick and inexpensive melanoma screening
19 hours ago
The idea sounds simple: Take a photo of a suspicious mole or lesion with your phone, run it through an embedded software program and find out within a few seconds if it is likely to be cancerous.
Having eczema may reduce your risk of skin cancer
May 06, 2014
Eczema caused by defects in the skin could reduce the risk of developing skin cancer, according to new research by King's College London. The immune response triggered by eczema could help prevent tumour ...
Experts issue treatment guidelines for aggressive form of breast cancer
May 05, 2014
(HealthDay)—Two sets of guidelines for treating patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer have been released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Liver cancer screening highly beneficial for people with cirrhosis
May 05, 2014
Liver cancer survival rates could be improved if more people with cirrhosis are screened for tumors using inexpensive ultrasound scans and blood tests, according to a review by doctors at UT Southwestern ...
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
0 comments:
Post a Comment