[The role of immunotherapy in metastatic cancer of the kidney]

Abstract

Nearly 2,500 new cases of metastatic renal cell carcinoma are diagnosed in France every year. Only immunotherapy has demonstrated some therapeutic responses, owing to antitumoral activity of T lymphocytes, CDS and also CD4. This review illustrates results from different therapeutic regimen with interferon alpha, interleukin-2 (intravenous or subcutaneous), alone or in association, and adoptive immunotherapy with in vitro activated lymphocytes. Response rates ranged from 15 to 30%, with a 10% complete response rate. High level of serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein predicted unfavorable evolution and lack of response to immunotherapy. Improvement in the response rate needs the selection of patients who are potentially responder and new therapeutic association, especially interleukin-2, interferon alpha and 5-fluoro-uracil.