Phase II trial of subcutaneous interleukin-2, subcutaneous interferon-alpha, 5-fluorouracil and cis-retinoic acid in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma: final results of cancer biotherapy research group 94-10.

Background: The treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer remains unsatisfactory despite encouraging results with biotherapy. Pilot studies from other investigators have suggested that combining cis-retinoic acid and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) with interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN) may improve outcomes for such patients.

Methods: Eligible patients had metastatic renal cell cancer, were in good medical condition, and had not been treated previously with more than two of the study agents.

Phase II trial of subcutaneous interleukin-2, subcutaneous interferon-alpha, intravenous combination chemotherapy, and oral tamoxifen in the treatment of metastatic melanoma: final results of cancer biotherapy research group 94-11.

Background: The treatment of metastatic melanoma remains unsatisfactory despite encouraging results with biotherapy and combination chemotherapy. Combining these two modalities may improve outcomes for such patients.

Methods: Eligible patients had metastatic melanoma, were in good medical condition, and had not been treated previously for metastatic disease.

Continuous-infusion floxuridine and alpha interferon in metastatic renal cancer: a national biotherapy study group phase II study.

Eighteen patients with advanced renal cancer were treated with 0.15 mg/kg/day floxuridine by continuous intravenous infusion for 14 days with 3 million IU/m2/day alpha interferon subcutaneously three times weekly. Treatment cycles were repeated every 28 days.

Interferon-alpha and chemohormonal therapy for patients with advanced melanoma: final results of a phase I-II study of the Cancer Biotherapy Research Group and the Mid-Atlantic Oncology Program.

Background: The treatment of metastatic melanoma remains unsatisfactory despite encouraging results with biotherapy and combination chemotherapy. Combining these two modalities may improve outcomes for such patients.

Methods: Patients who were eligible for this study had metastatic melanoma and were in good medical condition.

Activation of infectious virus from latent human immunodeficiency virus infection of monocytes in vivo.

Individuals infected with HIV may be asymptomatic for years before progressing to overt AIDS. Since HIV can latently infect monocytoid cell lines, we examined whether HIV latency occurs in monocytes in vivo. Freshly isolated monocytes from asymptomatic seropositive individuals examined before and after culture were positive for HIV DNA, but not RNA, as measured by polymerase chain reaction, showing that HIV latency occurs in monocytes in vivo.