J Atzpodien1, T Wandert, M Reitz. 1. Fachklinik Hornheide an der Universität Münster, Dorbaumstr. 300, 48157 Münster, Germany. sekrprofatzpodien@yahoo.de
Abstract
PURPOSE: Based on the increasing proportion of elderly cancer patients, we compared the efficacy of subcutaneous cytokine based home therapy in older (age > or = 60 years) and younger (age < 60 years) patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: As a rule, patients at an age of 60 years or older received a 20% dose reduction of s.c. IL-2. Treatment consisted of (A) s.c. interferon-alpha2a (s.c. INF-alpha2a), s.c. interleukin-2 (s.c. IL-2), (B) s.c. IFN-alpha2a, s.c. IL-2 and i.v. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or (C) s.c. IFN-alpha2a, s.c. IL-2 and i.v. 5-FU combined with p.o. 13-cis-retinoic acid (p.o. 13cRA). RESULTS: Patient age groups > or = 60 years (n=174) and < 60 years (n=251) showed no significant difference in objective response (27% versus 31%), in median overall survival (22 months versus 19 months), and in progression-free survival (6 months versus 5 months). Within the elderly patients group, median overall survival was 20 months (pts. 60-64 years) versus 23 months (pts. > or = 65 years) and median progression-free survival was 4 months (pts. 60-64 years) versus 8 months (pts. > or = 65 years). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that patient age and related IL-2 dose reduction do not impair the efficacy of s.c.-IL-2 plus s.c.-INF-2a based outpatient immunochemotherapy in metastatic renal carcinoma.
PURPOSE: Based on the increasing proportion of elderly cancerpatients, we compared the efficacy of subcutaneous cytokine based home therapy in older (age > or = 60 years) and younger (age < 60 years) patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: As a rule, patients at an age of 60 years or older received a 20% dose reduction of s.c. IL-2. Treatment consisted of (A) s.c. interferon-alpha2a (s.c. INF-alpha2a), s.c. interleukin-2 (s.c. IL-2), (B) s.c. IFN-alpha2a, s.c. IL-2 and i.v. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or (C) s.c. IFN-alpha2a, s.c. IL-2 and i.v. 5-FU combined with p.o. 13-cis-retinoic acid (p.o. 13cRA). RESULTS:Patient age groups > or = 60 years (n=174) and < 60 years (n=251) showed no significant difference in objective response (27% versus 31%), in median overall survival (22 months versus 19 months), and in progression-free survival (6 months versus 5 months). Within the elderly patients group, median overall survival was 20 months (pts. 60-64 years) versus 23 months (pts. > or = 65 years) and median progression-free survival was 4 months (pts. 60-64 years) versus 8 months (pts. > or = 65 years). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that patient age and related IL-2 dose reduction do not impair the efficacy of s.c.-IL-2 plus s.c.-INF-2a based outpatient immunochemotherapy in metastatic renal carcinoma.
Authors: Tim Eisen; Stéphane Oudard; Cezary Szczylik; Gwenaelle Gravis; Hans Heinzer; Richard Middleton; Frank Cihon; Sibyl Anderson; Sonalee Shah; Ronald Bukowski; Bernard Escudier Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2008-10-07 Impact factor: 13.506