IL-2

Offering the only comprehensive high-dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2) Unit in New York City, the Tumor Immunotherapy Program is comprised of dedicated and specially-trained physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and nutritionists. We routinely use high-dose IL-2 for the treatment of advanced patients with malignant melanoma and kidney cancer.

Nationwide, high dose IL-2 has resulted in disease regression in 15% to 20% of patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. About 6% to 8% of patients experience durable complete regression of all disease.

Eligibility Criteria for IL-2 Therapy

1. Any patient age ≥ 8 with measurable metastatic disease and an expected survival of 3 months or greater.
2. Serum creatinine of 1.6 mg/dl or less.
3. Total Bilirubin 1.6 mg/dl or less.
4. WBC 3000/mm3 or greater.
5. Platelet count 90,000 mm3 or greater.
6. Serum AST/ALT ≤ 3 times normal.
7. ECOG performance status of 0 or 1.
8. Patients of both genders must be willing to practice effective birth control during IL-2 therapy.
9. Pathological confirmation of malignant melanoma or renal cell carcinoma.
10. Normal cardiac stress test.
11. Normal pulmonary function tests.
12. No current or recent steroid use.
13. No major medical contraindications, such as MI, IDDM, obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease, autoimmune disease, or active systemic infection.

** Patients must have baseline CT scans (chest, abd/pel), MRI (brain), and nuclear stress test done within 4 weeks before starting therapy.

Survival after IL-2 treatment is correlated with the following criteria:

• Performance status
• Development of vitiligo and/or autoimmune thyroiditis
• Amount of IL-2 given during first course
• Height of the rebound lymhocytosis
• Vitiligo seen in 11/74 melanoma patients with no response, in no non-responders, and in no RCC patients receiving high dose IL-2