Repeated regression of pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma after treatment using different interferon-alpha preparations

A 49-year-old man with pulmonary metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was treated with recombinant IFN-α2b (Intron A®). A complete response was achieved within 4 months and thereafter persisted for 5 years until he developed another lung lesion. Interleukin-2 (Imunace®) was administered without any response. Finally, lie was treated by natural IFN-α (OIF®). The pulmonary lesion achieved a partial response after 11 months of treatment. Because IFN-α preparations include different subtypes, changing the use of IFN-α preparations may thus be a potentially useful option for the successful immunotherapy of RCC.