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.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2005.03.001DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

survival months
16
versus months
16
months pts
16
metastatic renal
12
age years
12
impair efficacy
8
patients metastatic
8
renal carcinoma
8
years
8
dose reduction
8

Similar Publications

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of PreserFlo MicroShunt (PMS) combined with mitomycin C in patients with medically treated primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Study Design: A retrospective observational study.

Methods: The study examined 83 eyes from 83 patients with medically treated glaucoma surgery naive POAG.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Alcohol use disorder and alcohol-associated liver disease is increasing in the US, with subsequent and expected increases in morbidity and mortality due to these conditions.

Aims: To determine the impact of an educational intervention regarding alcohol use disorder on gastroenterology fellows.

Methods: A before-after survey study was carried out.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background & Aims: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE), one of the most serious prognostic factors for mortality in alcohol-related cirrhosis (ALD cirrhosis), is not recorded in Danish healthcare registries. However, treatment of HE with lactulose, the universal first-line treatment, can be identified through data on filled prescriptions. This study aimed to investigate if lactulose can be used as a surrogate marker of HE.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To evaluate the predictive ability of furosemide stress test (FST), serum and urine cystatin-C in identifying progressive acute kidney injury (AKI) and the need for kidney replacement therapy (KRT).

Methods: Children aged one month to 18 y admitted in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with Kidney Diseases Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage-1/2 AKI were enrolled. FST and serum and urine cystatin-C levels were performed and analyzed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an important prognostic factor for rectal cancer. This study aims to introduce a novel cutoff point for CEA within the normal range to improve prognosis prediction and enhance patient stratification in rectal cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 316 patients with stages I to III rectal cancer who underwent surgical tumor resection were enrolled.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!