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. 1996 Mar;73(6):789–793. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1996.137

Recombinant human interleukin 6 in metastatic renal cell cancer: a phase II trial.

J M Stouthard 1, H Goey 1, E G de Vries 1, P H de Mulder 1, A Groenewegen 1, L Pronk 1, G Stoter 1, H P Sauerwein 1, P J Bakker 1, C H Veenhof 1
PMCID: PMC2074380  PMID: 8611381

Abstract

A phase II trial investigating the anti-tumour effects of recombinant human interleukin 6 (rhIL-6) in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer was carried out. RhIL-6 (150 microgram) was administered as a daily subcutaneous injection for 42 consecutive days on an outpatient basis. Forty-nine patients were studied, 12 with and 37 without previous immunotherapy. Forty patients were evaluable for response. A partial remission was noted in two patients, stable disease in 17 and progressive disease in 21. Toxicity was moderate and reversible and consisted mainly of fever, flu-like symptoms, nausea, weight loss and hepatotoxicity. Anaemia, leucocytosis and thrombocytosis and induction of acute phase protein synthesis were noted in most patients. In 15% of the patients anti-IL-6 antibodies developed, and were neutralising in only one patient. Baseline plasma IL-6 concentrations did not correlate with tumour behaviour before or after rhIL-6 treatment. In conclusion, rhIL-6 can be safely administered on an outpatient basis for prolonged period of time and has moderate, reversible toxicity. Its administration induces IL-6-antibody production in only a minority of patients. Antitmour effects of rhIL-6 in metastatic renal cancer are limited.

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Selected References

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