Combined subcutaneous recombinant alpha-interferon and interleukin-2 in metastatic renal cell cancer: results of the Multicentre All Ireland Immunotherapy Study Group.

Objective: To analyse the toxicity and efficacy of combined interferon-alpha and interleukin-2, administered subcutaneously in a general multicentre setting, as treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were scheduled to receive 2 cyclical doses of subcutaneous interferon-alpha (week 1: 5 MU x 3 days) and interleukin-2 (week 2: 36 MU x 2 days, 9 MU x 3 days; weeks 3-5: 9 MU daily). Karnofsky scores ranged from 80 to 100 (median 90).