High-dose bolus interleukin-2 in elderly patients (>60 years old) with metastatic melanoma or renal cell cancer

19559 Background: Although durable complete responses have been reported from using high-dose bolus interleukin-2 (HDB IL-2) in a small number of patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell cancer (RCC), IL-2 toxicity limits its use especially in the elderly. Methods: the medical records of patients older than 60 years old with melanoma or renal cell carcinoma who received HDB IL-2 at the Moffitt Cancer Center between 2000–2005 were reviewed. The effect of increased age, primary diagnosis, and the HDB IL-2 regimen used on the side effects, number of administered doses, and survival was analyzed. Results: 55 cycles were administered to 35 patients (23 RCC, 12 melanoma, 26 men). Median age was 67 years old (range: 61–77). 17 patients received a traditional regimen (one cycle: 600,000 IU/Kg intravenously every 8 hours for 14 doses repeated in 2 weeks, maximum of 28 doses) and 18 received a clinical trial regimen (one cycle: 600,000 IU/Kg intravenously every 8 hours for 5 doses repeated weekly, maximum of 20 doses). Median number of administered cycles was 1 (range 1–4) and median number of total doses was 24 (range 3–79). Increased age was not related to total number of administered doses. Median percentage of IL-2 administered in a cycle was 75% of planned (range 11%-100%). Reasons to discontinue therapy were: oliguria (35%), hypotension (25%), and arrhythmia (15%). Side effects in all cycles were: hypotension (71%), oliguria (67%), Arrhythmia (18%), Myocardial infarction (7%), pulmonary edema (7%), hypothyroidism (4%), confusion (4%), seizures (2%) and stroke (2%). Pressors were used in 58% of all cycles. 20 patients died within a year from starting treatment and 5 lived more than 2 years (4 had RCC). Conclusions: 1) HDB IL-2 has multiple and life-threatening side effects in the elderly and caution is needed when selecting these patients to such therapy 2) the number of doses administered is comparable to that general population 3) more studies are needed to identify the population that would mostly benefit from HDB IL2. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.