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Researchers are actively investigating interleukin-2 and interferon as possible treatments for some forms of cancer. Both of these substances are synthesized in the body as a part of the body's normal immune response. However, massive amounts must be administered for anticancer effects, and, in these doses, serious side effects are common. A study was conducted to determine dose ranges appropriate for further investigation. All 17 patients in the study had some form of solid tumor, such as breast cancer or melanoma, which had proved resistant to standard forms of treatment. The dose of alpha-2a-interferon was held constant through the series of treatments, but the dose of interleukin-2 was varied to determine the maximum dose of interleukin-2 that can be tolerated in combination with interferon. The four-week treatment consisted of six million units of interferon per square meter of body area on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Every day, Monday through Friday the patients received a two-hour infusion of interleukin-2. For the first week, the interleukin-2 dose was one million units per square meter each day. For the second week, the dose was raised to two million, and to three and four million units for the third and fourth weeks, respectively. It was found that patients could not tolerate the four million unit per square meter daily dose of interleukin-2 in combination with alpha-2a-interferon. Fever and chills and overwhelming fatigue were the most common side effects. The results of this study might be interpreted to indicate that three million units of interleukin-2 is the most appropriate dose to evaluate in future studies. In the present study, one patient with melanoma achieved a partial response. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)