Interferon-alfa in the treatment of patients with inoperable locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review

A systematic review was undertaken to determine whether inter-feron-alfa (IFN-α) is an effective treatment for patients with inop-erable locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, guideline databases and relevant meeting proceedings were searched. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or meta-analyses comparing IFN-α-contain-ing regimens to placebo or non-immunotherapy controls, and that reported response rate, survival, toxicity or quality of life data were eligible. Two systematic reviews and eight RCTs met the selection criteria. A Cochrane review updated in 2005 reported higher response rates and reduced one-year mortality based on 4 RCTs in patients who received IFN-α. Of the eight RCTs, three reporting objective response rate showed significant differences favouring IFN-α. Two of five trials reporting survival data showed longer median sur