Adjuvant Interferon Therapy for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Summary:

The efficacy of adjuvant interferon therapy in radical nephrectomy is quite controversial. The author's group randomized 342 cases with histologically proven renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Robson stages I and II into the adjuvant interferon group (group A) and the no-adjuvant group (group B) by the envelope method. The result showed no difference in recurrence free rates between the groups. Probably because of violation of the envelope method, there was a significant background difference especially in tumor size and pT. Therefore, multiple regression analysis following the Cox model was performed. The tumor size was found to be the most important factor influencing prognosis of RCC. Multiple regression analysis regarding variables such as females, grade 1, and age 60 - 69 showing no tumor size bias revealed that adjuvant IFN therapy was the most important factor in preventing recurrence. The fact suggests that adjuvant IFN could be important in the increasing radicality of the operation for stages I and II RCC for preventing later recurrence.

However, in order to prove the efficacy of adjuvant IFN in low stage RCC, it would be necessary to carry out a prospective randomized study with the central registration system to avoid the tumor size bias intentionally caused in the envelope method.

Key words:

Interferon - Renal cell carcinoma - Adjuvant therapy