Interferon-α (IFN-α) monotherapy was found to increase mortality in patients with advanced kidney cancer, compared to standard targeted therapies alone, according to a recent Cochrane review involving 4 different types of immunotherapy in ~4700 individuals. Meanwhile, there was no difference when interferon was combined with such therapies. Both findings were based on moderate-quality evidence.

The reviewers also found that:

• Quality-of-life was worse with IFN alone, and adverse event scores were higher with IFN alone or in combination (low-quality evidence).
• There was no difference between IFN-α plus bevacizumab compared to sunitinib with respect to mortality and severe adverse events (low-quality evidence).
• There was no difference between vaccine treatment compared to standard targeted therapies in mortality and adverse events (low-quality evidence).

Targeted immunotherapies reduced mortality and adverse events, and improved quality-of-life (moderate quality evidence).