Tumor-related immunity in prostate cancer patients treated with human recombinant granulocyte monocyte-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

Background: Granulocyte monocyte-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) supports the survival, expansion, and differentiation of lymphoid and myeloid derived dendritic cells (DCs). We hypothesized that systemic therapy with GM-CSF in prostate cancer patients could augment prostate cancer-related immunity and induce clinical response.

Methods: Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive either 125 or 250 microg/m(2) GM-CSF subcutaneously three times a week until clinical progression.

Impaired cytolytic activity in peripheral blood T cells from renal cell carcinoma patients.

Classic T lymphocyte cytotoxicity is mediated through the T cell receptor (TCR). Defects in TCR signal transduction and cytolytic activity have been reported in tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes. We hypothesized that impaired cytotoxicity occurs in peripheral blood T cells from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that can be reversed by exposure to rhIL-2.

Randomized phase III trial of high-dose interleukin-2 versus subcutaneous interleukin-2 and interferon in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: The Cytokine Working Group conducted a randomized phase III trial to determine the value of outpatient interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon alfa-2b (IFN) relative to high-dose (HD) IL-2 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Patients were stratified for bone and liver metastases, primary tumor in place, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1 and then randomly assigned to receive either IL-2 (5 MIU/m(2) subcutaneously every 8 hours for three doses on day 1, then daily 5 days/wk for 4 weeks) and IFN (5 MIU/m(2) subcutaneously three times per week for 4 weeks) every 6 weeks or HD IL-2 (600,000 U/kg/dose intravenously every 8 hours on days 1 through 5 and 15 to 19 [maximum 28 doses]) every 12 weeks.

Results: One hundred ninety-two patients were enrolled between April 1997 and July 2000.

Adjuvant high-dose bolus interleukin-2 for patients with high-risk renal cell carcinoma: a cytokine working group randomized trial.

Purpose: This prospective, randomized, controlled phase III trial assessed high-dose bolus interleukin-2 (IL-2) postoperatively in patients with high-risk renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Patients And Methods: Eligibility requirements were resected locally advanced (LA; T3b-4 or N1-3) or metastatic (M1) RCC, no prior systemic therapy, and excellent organ function. Randomized assignment was to one course of IL-2 (600,000 U/kg every 8 hours on days 1 to 5 and days 15 to 19 [maximum 28 doses]) or observation.