Antitumor effects of interleukin 2 against advanced renal cell carcinoma and prognosis of the patients by long term follow-up

Eighteen patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated by systemic administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from March 1986 to October 1988. All of the patients received 1 x 10⁶ units of IL-2 twice a day for at least 4 weeks. Three patients achieved complete response (CR), 10 no change (NC) and 5 progressive disease (PD). Therefore, the response rate was 16.7%. Survival rate was compared with historical control group of 27 patients with advanced RCC in our institution. One, three and five year survival rate of the patients treated with IL-2 was 78%, 44% and 33%, although the historical group was 57%, 19% and 19%. We conclude that IL-2 can improve prognosis of patients with advanced RCC.