RE04 trial results – comparing two different treatments for advanced renal cell carcinoma

24 Jun 2014

The main results paper for the RE04 trial ‘Interferon alfa-2a versus combination therapy with interferon alfa-2a, interleukin-2, and fluorouracil in patients with untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRC RE04/EORTC GU 30012): an open-label randomised trial’ features in the latest edition of The Lancet.

This trial compared interferon α-2a treatment with shorter combination treatment of interferon α-2a, interleukin-2, and fluorouracil. 1006 people who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer that had spread to other parts of the body took part.

There was no evidence of a difference in progression-free or overall survival between the two treatment arms.Trial participants receiving combination treatment experienced more side effects than those receiving interferon α-2a alone.

This study was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC). It is an intergroup study coordinated by the MRC Clinical Trials Unit in collaboration with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer.