One small, retrospective cohort study (+ quality) involving patients with metastatic or unresected melanoma or renal cell cancer experienced a significant depletion of oral calorie and protein intake as early as the first 24 hours of interleukin-2 therapy and these losses continued throughout therapy (2-3 weeks).

 

Larger, prospective studies on the effects of interleukin therapy on nutritional intake are needed.

One small, retrospective cohort study (+ quality) involving patients with metastatic or unresectable melanoma or renal cell cancer received either a normal diet with intravenous fluids at 100-150 ml/hr (control) during the 7-day IL-2 treatment period compared to patients receiving a normal diet and TPN at 80-100 ml/hr for 30 kcal/kg. Data from only the first seven days of therapy was recorded. The TPN group had a total intake (oral and parenteral) of 25 kcal/kg and 1.02 g protein/kg on Day 1 and 29 kcal/kg and 1.10 g protein/kg on Day 5, compared to 2.5 kcal/kg and 0.12 g protein/kg on Day 1 and 2.8 kcal/kg and 0.08 g protein/kg on Day 5 in the control group. The TPN group experienced a lower incidence of cholestatic jaundice, less incidence of hypocalcemia during and following therapy, and serum magnesium and potassium levels closer to normal ranges during recovery as compared to controls.

 

There were no differences observed in weight, serum albumin levels or survival between groups. Larger, prospective studies are needed with longer duration of nutritional support (including utilization of enteral nutrition) and longer duration of follow-up are needed to substantiate the results of this study.