Overview

Combination Chemotherapy and Biological Therapy In Treating Patients With Kidney Cancer That Is Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed Surgically

Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
1969-12-31
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Interleukin-2 may stimulate a person's white blood cells to kill kidney cancer cells. Interferon alfa may interfere with the growth of cancer cells. Combining chemotherapy with biological therapy may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy and biological therapy in treating patients with kidney cancer that is metastatic or cannot be removed surgically.
Phase:
Phase 2
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Cancer Biotherapy Research Group
Treatments:
Aldesleukin
Fluorouracil
Gemcitabine
Interferon-alpha
Interferons
Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven metastatic or unresectable carcinoma of the
kidney No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 70 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy:
Greater than 4 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,500/mm3 Granulocyte count at least
2,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 PT no greater than 1.3 times upper limit of
normal (ULN) Hematocrit at least 28% Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL SGOT no greater
than 1.25 times ULN (unless due to tumor) Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Calcium
less than 12 mg/dL Proteinuria no greater than 2.0 by dipstick Cardiovascular: No active
angina No uncontrolled congestive heart failure No uncontrolled arrhythmias No myocardial
infarction within 6 months Pulmonary: No significant pulmonary disease (RA pO2 less than 60
or pCO2 greater than 50) Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective
contraception HIV negative No active infection No daily emesis or inability to tolerate
solid foods No prior or concurrent second malignancy within 2 years, except: Nonmelanoma
skin cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix No sever diarrhea (greater than 4 watery stools
per day) No active pelvic inflammatory disease No inflammatory bowel disease No
uncontrolled seizure disorders No personal or family history of malignant hyperthermia No
recent thromboembolism or any condition requiring concurrent anticoagulation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No other concurrent biologic therapy
Chemotherapy: No prior gemcitabine No prior fluorouracil other than adjuvant fluorouracil
received at least 1 year prior to study No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy:
Concurrent corticosteroids not allowed (except for nausea or vomiting) Radiotherapy: At
least 14 days since prior radiation to axial skeleton No concurrent radiotherapy (except to
local lesions) Surgery: At least 14 days since prior exploration and biopsy At least 21
days since prior resection with anastomosis No major organ allograft Other: No concurrent
barbiturates No concurrent oral anticoagulants No other concurrent investigational drugs or
devices