[Interferon alpha and gamma in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma].

We report 31 cases of renal cell carcinoma treated with interferon. Indicators defined as bidimensionally measurable mass were present in 20 cases, which included 19 cases with metastatic lesions and one case with primary site who did not receive nephrectomy. Treatment were performed with interferon-gamma in 9 cases, and with interferon-alpha in 14 cases. Of them, 3 cases received alpha-interferon following gamma-interferon treatment. Remained 11 cases had no evidence of disease after radical nephrectomy or surgical removal of metastatic lesions, and received interferon-alpha as post operative adjuvant therapy. In 18 evaluable cases, one case (6%) showed minor response; 8 cases (44%) no change and 9 cases (50%) progressive disease. Survival rates (Kaplan-Meier's method) of minor response and no change cases at 1, 2 years were 89%, 59%. Those of progressive disease cases were 22% and 11%, respectively. Of 11 cases received post operative adjuvant therapy, recurrence was observed in four cases (36%) with the mean follow up period of 11 months. Frequent side effects were fever (62%), leukocytopenia (56%) anorexia (38%), fatigue (26%). Efficacy of interferon to metastatic renal cell carcinoma in this study is limited. Further studies are required to determine the benefit of post operative adjuvant therapy with interferon.