Pharmacokinetic Study of Interleukin-2 Following Intravenous Injection in Hemodialysis Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma

: The purpose of the present study is to determine the change in blood concentration of interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) after intravenous injection in hemodialysis patients and to assess its safety. Four hemodialysis patients who underwent nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma were treated with IL‐2 at a dose of 350 000–700 000 JRU by intravenous injection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed from the serum IL‐2 concentration, which reached its peak just after the end of infusion, followed by biphasic elimination, and was below the detection limit in all patients at 24 h postinfusion. In comparison with patients with normal renal function, the volume of distribution in the serum compartment was almost comparable (3820 ± 2020 mL). Clearance (50.47 ± 11.50 mL/min) decreased to 40%, and the half‐life of the distribution phase (0.45 ± 0.19 h) and that of the terminal phase (1.72 ± 0.20 h) were distinctly longer. The area under the blood concentration–time curve was about two‐fold higher than that of non‐hemodialysis patients. In all patients, there were no serious adverse reactions. The results of the present study suggest that intravenous IL‐2 therapy can be safely performed in hemodialysis patients.