Biologic therapy may be used in the treatment of kidney cancer
that has spread. Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses drugs
to improve the way your body’s immune system fights disease.
Your immune system is your body’s natural defense against
disease. Biologic therapy attempts to repair, stimulate, or
enhance the immune system so that it can fight the cancer more
effectively. These therapies can be used to fight cancer or to
lessen the side effects that may be caused by some cancer
treatments. Examples of agents used to treat kidney cancer
include interferon and interleukin 2 (also known as IL-2,
aldesleukin, or proleukin). Doctors are investigating using
interferons with other biologic agents. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is
approved for metastatic kidney cancer, when the disease has
spread to other places in the body. The medicine is given either
subcutaneously (shots under the skin) or intravenously (by vein)
either in the hospital or in an outpatient setting. Treatment
may be given in cycles separated by a re