[The efficacy of recombinant interleukin 2 in local treatment of superficial bladder tumors].

The present study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of recombinant Interleukin 2 (rIL-2: S-6820) in treatment of superficial bladder tumors. Three intratumor injections at a dose of 5 x 10(5) units/day via urethra, were performed every other day under endoscopic control in 12 patients with superficial bladder cancer. On the 15th day after completion of the series of injections, the tumor had disappeared in one patient and 50% regression over was observed in two other patients. Therefore, the response rate to the rIL-2 treatment in our study was 25.0%. Each tumor which responded to the therapy, was single, small and low grade. In the peripheral blood of the 12 patients, an increase in IL-2 receptor-positive lymphocytes and augmentation of natural killer activity were detected after the rIL-2 intratumor injection. There were no serious side effects except for moderate fever in our study.