Interleukin-2 and interferon in renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell cancer (RCC) represents an unusual solid tumor for which no treatment other than surgical therapy has been effective. This tumor demonstrates a remarkably heterogeneous behaviour and rare reports of spontaneous regressions suggest an unusual sensitivity to host immunologic control. In recent years the rapid development in molecular genetics, growth factors and cytokine--lymphocyte interactions have increased the interest and possibilities for immunotherapy of RCC. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) or Interferon alpha (IFN alpha) alone are only marginally active in RCC. Their different modes of action and their synergistic effects when used in experimental murine models prompted the investigation of combined IL-2/INF alpha therapy in advanced RCC. The advantage of a combination of IL-2 and IFN alpha treatment as compared to LAK cell treatment seems to be that IL-2 and IFN alpha can be given at lower dosages without compromising the results in an outpatient setting. This article reviews the use of IL-2 and IFN alpha in combination for treatment of RCC and discusses the current problems and future challenges in this field.