FDA Licenses Kidney Cancer Treatment

Beginning of article

The first product specifically designed to treat kidney cancer was licensed by FDA last May.

The biologic, Proleukin (aldesleukin), is derived from genetically engineered bacteria that trigger a response from the body's immune system. It is one of the first successful cancer treatments using this method.

Proleuldn does not cure kidney cancer and has severe side effects in most patients. But it provides an alternative treatment for the disease, also called metastatic renal cell carcinoma, which kills about 10,000 people a year.

In seven clinical trials, Proleukin reduced the size of tumors in 15 percent of 255 patients. In 4 percent of patients, all evidence …