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Kidney cancer: The cytokine working group experience (1986–2001)

Part II: Management of IL-2 toxicity and studies with other cytokines

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Abstract

The Cytokine Working Group (CWG) was initially established in 1986 as the Extramural IL-2/LAK Working Group. With funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the CWG was mandated to confirming data regarding the efficacy of the high-dose interleukin-2 (IL2)/lymphokine-activated killer cell (LAK cell) regimen piloted at the NCI in the treatment of renal cell cancer. Since those initial studies, the CWG has conducted a series of clinical trials, often with correlative immunologic investigations, to evaluate combination immunotherapy in attempts to enhance the efficacy of IL-2 or to reduce toxicity. Subsequently, the CWG conducted trials to demonstrate the activity of lower-dose outpatient combination cytokine regimens to help determine their role in the armamentarium of treatment for metastatic renal cell cancer. This has culminated in a phase III randomized trial comparing the activity of high-dose IL-2 with the activity of outpatient IL-2 plus interferon-α. The CWG also has honed the management of both high-dose IL-2 and outpatient IL-2 regimens to make these safer in the hands of experienced clinicians. In addition, the CWG has produced a series of carefully conducted clinical trials of new cytokines, again attempting to define their clinical efficacy as anticancer agents. These include studies of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-12. Currently, the CWG is conducting studies with new approaches to IL-2 therapy, as well as planning trials with new agents for treatment of renal cell cancer. This review describes these efforts conducted over the past 15 yr.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, 600 E. 233 Street, 10466, Bronx, New York

    Janice Dutcher M.D.

  2. Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston, MA

    Michael B. Atkins & James Mier

  3. City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA

    Kim Margolin

  4. University of Texas, San Antonio, TX

    Geoff Weiss

  5. Loyola University, Chicago, IL

    Joseph Clark

  6. University of Illinois, Chicago, IL

    Jeff Sosman

  7. University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN

    Theodore Logan

  8. University of California, San Francisco, CA

    Fred Aronson

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  1. Janice Dutcher M.D.
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  3. Kim Margolin
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  9. James Mier
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Correspondence to Janice Dutcher M.D..

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Dutcher, J., Atkins, M.B., Margolin, K. et al. Kidney cancer: The cytokine working group experience (1986–2001). Med Oncol 18, 209–219 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:18:3:209

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:18:3:209

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