DAB₃₈₉IL-2 (Denileukin Diftitox, ONTAK): Review of Clinical Trials to Date

Clinical trials of DAB₃₈₉IL-2 (denileukin diftitox, ONTAK) have been conducted in a variety of disease states as well as in normal volunteers. The individuals treated include 45 volunteers in pharmacokinetic testing, 195 patients with noncancer indications, and 216 patients with lymphoma, including ongoing trials. The noncancer trials involved patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, HIV infection, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Two large trials involving 143 lymphoma patients provide the definitive data and formed the basis for seeking and receiving Food and Drug Administration approval for DAB₃₈₉IL-2, The focus of this paper will be a review of the efficacy and toxicity trials with DAB₃₈₉IL-2 completed to date in cancer, in particular those that involved patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, as well as the rationale for these trials.