Co-administration of CG250 and IL-2 or IFN-alpha for treating cancer such as renal cell carcinomas
A method for enhancing the therapeutic effect of cytokine treatment is disclosed. More specifically the present invention relates to a method for administering to a tumor patient a therapeutic dose of cytokine in combination with antibodies directed against the tumor associated antigen carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX/G250/MN). The improved treatment method is characterized in a significantly reduced cytokine-related toxicity combined with potentiated effectiveness of anti-G250 antibody alone, resulting in a positive therapeutic response with respect to that observed with single anti-tumor agents alone.
1. A method for the treatment of a renal cell cancer comprising co-administering an anti-tumor antibody directed against the MN (G250) antigen and a cytokine to a subject in need thereof, wherein the cytokine is administered repeatedly in a low-dose form as a single daily dose in the range of from 1-10 MIU daily, wherein the cytokine is interleukin-2 (IL-2), and wherein the IL-2 is the only cytokine which is administered.
2. A method for the treatment of a renal cell cancer comprising co-administering an anti-tumor antibody directed against the MN (G250) antigen and a cytokine to a subject in need thereof, wherein the method comprises:
(a) a first treatment stage comprising administering a low-dose cytokine as a single daily dose in the range of from 1-10 MIU daily, wherein the cytokine is interleukin-2 (IL-2), and
(b) a second treatment stage comprising co-administering said anti-tumor antibody and a low-dose cytokine, wherein the cytokine is administered as a single daily dose in the range of from 1-10 MIU daily, wherein the cytokine is IL-2, and wherein the IL-2 is the only cytokine which is administered.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the low-dose cytokine comprises a dose which is pharmaceutically effective in the substantial absence of NIC CTC toxicity grade 3 or higher.
4. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the cytokine is administered in a substantially constant dose during the treatment.
5. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the cytokine is administered in a variable dose during the treatment.
6. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the cytokine is administered subcutaneously.
7. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the anti-tumor antibody is a chimeric or humanized G250 antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the anti-tumor antibody is administered in intervals of from 5-20 days.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first treatment stage comprises 5-20 days.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second treatment stage comprises 5-200 days.
11. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the renal cell cancer is metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second treatment stage comprises about 70-120 days.
13. A method for the treatment of a renal cell cancer, said method comprising co-administering an anti-tumor antibody directed against the MN (G250) antigen and a cytokine to a subject in need thereof, wherein the cytokine is administered repeatedly in a low-dose form as a single daily dose in the range of from 1-10 MIU daily, wherein the cytokine is interleukin-2 (IL-2), and wherein the anti-tumor antibody and the IL-2 are the only active ingredients which are administered.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the anti-tumor antibody is a chimeric or humanized G250 antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the renal cell cancer is metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
16. A method for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma comprising co-administering an anti-tumor antibody directed against the MN (G250) antigen and a cytokine to a subject in need thereof, wherein the cytokine is administered repeatedly in a low-dose form as a single daily dose in the range of from 1-10 MIU daily, wherein the cytokine is interleukin-2 (IL-2), and wherein the IL-2 is the only cytokine which is administered.
17. A method for the treatment of a renal cell cancer comprising co-administering an anti-tumor antibody directed against the MN (G250) antigen and a cytokine to a subject in need thereof, wherein the subject is in the terminal stage of the disease, wherein the cytokine is administered repeatedly in a low-dose form as a single daily dose in the range of from 1-10 MIU daily, wherein the cytokine is interleukin-2 (IL-2), and wherein the IL-2 is the only cytokine which is administered.
18. A method for the treatment of a renal cell cancer comprising co-administering an anti-tumor antibody directed against the MN (G250) antigen and a cytokine to a subject in need thereof, wherein the cytokine is administered subcutaneously and repeatedly in a low-dose form as a single daily dose in the range of from 1-10 MIU daily, wherein the cytokine is interleukin-2 (IL-2), and wherein the IL-2 is the only cytokine which is administered.