Skip to main content
Log in

Low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 and low-dose cyclophosphamide in metastatic breast cancer

  • Short communication
  • Published:
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We undertook a preliminary study to examine the response rate of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in patients with advanced measurable breast cancer, in a phase II clinical trial. The regimen we utilized was designed to allow outpatient administration. A treatment cycle consisted of low-dose cyclophosphamide (350 mg/m2) given on day -3 followed by the bolus administration of rIL-2 (3.6 × 106 Cetus units/m2) on days 1–5, and 8–12. Toxicity was significant but acceptable. One partial remission was seen in 13 evaluable patients. In 2 additional patients clear evidence of an antitumor response was observed. The study was terminated prematurely owing to a shortage of rIL-2. Additional evaluation of rIL-2 in breast cancer appears warranted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Berd D, Maguire Jr HC, Mastrangelo MJ (1984) Potentiation of human cell mediated and humoral immunity by low-dose cyclophosphamide. Cancer Res 44: 5439

    Google Scholar 

  2. Budd GT, Osgood B, Barna B, Boyett JM, Finke J, Medendorp SV, Murthy S, Novak C, Sergi J, Tubbs R, Bukowski RM (1989) Phase I clinical trial of interleukin-2 and α-interferon: toxicity and immunomodulatory effects. Cancer Res 49: 6432

    Google Scholar 

  3. Israel L, Cour V, Pihan T, Morere J, Breau JL, Franks CR, Palmer P, Loriaux E (1989) Some theoretical and practical limitations of interleukin-2. Ten cases of advanced breast cancer treated with continuous infusion of IL-2. Cancer Treat Rev 16: 169

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mitchell MS, Kempf RA, Harel W, Shau H, Boswell WD, Lind S, Bradley EC (1988) Effectiveness and tolerability of low-dose cyclophosphamide and low-dose intravenous interleukin-2 in disseminated melanoma. J Clin Oncol 6: 409

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mitchell MS, Kempf RA, Harel W, Shau H, Boswell W, Lind S, Dean G, Moore J, Bradley EC (1989) Low-dose cyclophosphamide and low-dose interleukin-2 for malignant melanoma. Bull NY Acad Med 65: 128

    Google Scholar 

  6. Paciucci PA, Holland JF, Ryder JS, Konefal RG, Bekesi GJ, Odchimar R, Gordon R (1989) Immunotherapy with interleukin-2 by constant infusion with and without adoptive cell transfer and with weekly doxorubicin. Cancer Treat Rev 16: 67

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rosenberg SA, Lotze MT, Muul LM et al. (1987) A progress report on the treatment of 157 patients with advanced cancer using lymphokine-activated killer cells and interleukin-2 or high-dose interleukin-2 alone. N Engl J Med 316: 889

    Google Scholar 

  8. Sznol M, Dutcher JP, Atkins MB, Rayner RA, Margolin KA, Gaynor ER, Weiss GR, Aronson F, Parkinson DR, Hawkins MJ (1989) Review of interleukin-2 alone and interleukin-2/LAK clinical trials in metastatic malignant melanoma. Cancer Treat Rev 16: 29

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spicer, D.V., Kelley, A., Herman, R. et al. Low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 and low-dose cyclophosphamide in metastatic breast cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 34, 424–426 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01741755

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01741755

Key words

Navigation