Interleukin-2. The experience of the Rotterdam Cancer Institute; Daniel den Hoed Kliniek

Abstract
Between October 1987 and October 1989 we have treated 110 patients with advanced solid tumors with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL2) based immunotherapy. In renal cell cancer we have studied rIL2 alone, rIL2 combined with rIL2 activated lymphocytes (LAK), and in an ongoing study rIL2 and LAK and alpha-interferon (αIFN). There is suggestive evidence of increasingly good results in these consecutive studies. In melanoma the combination of rIL2 and chemotherapy was investigated, followed by an ongoing study of rIL2 and αIFN. In these studies rIL2 has been administered as a continuous intravenous infusion of 18 x 106 International Units/m2/day for 5 days (18 x 106 IU = 3 x 106 Cetus Units = 6.9 Biological Response Modifiers Program (BRMP) Units). Patients with non-small cell lung cancer are entered in a phase I-II study of rIL2 and αIFN. The rIL2 administration differs from the above mentioned schedule in that rIL2 is given at a maximum dose of 6 x 106 IU/m2/day for 28 days on an outpatient basis. In a phase I study we have searched for the maximum tolerated dose of a daily time 4 schedule of rIL2. In the second part of this study a daily time 4 schedule, every week for 4 weeks is being investigated. Finally, we are investigating the safety and efficacy of local regional administration of rIL2 in patients with head and neck cancer, mesothelioma, and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer.