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Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica 2002 June;54(2):113-7
Copyright © 2002 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
language: Italian
Immunotherapy in the management of metastatic renal carcinoma
Fischetti G., Cuzari S., Leone P., De Martino P., Musy M., Mariani S., Fraioli A., Valentini M. A.
Università degli Studi di Roma «La Sapienza» - Roma Policlinico «Umberto I» Dipartimento di Urologia «U. Bracci»
Background. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a relatively rare tumor representing 2-3% of all neoplasias. Approximately 30% of patients diagnosed as having RCC present metastases: mean survival ranges between 6 and 10 months, whilst 10-20% present a 2-year survival rate. Treatment of patients with metastatic RCC is a difficult challenge. Hormones and chemotherapy, either alone or associated with surgical resection of the primary lesion have been used. In our experience, IL-2 + IFN-α has been shown to be an encouraging form of treatment.
Methods. During the period between October 1997 and December 1999, 5 patients (3 males, 2 females), mean age 52.5 years, with metastatic RCC, came to our attention. TC revealed a circumscribed area the margins of which were not well defined, in a mid-renal localization, positive inter aorta caval and obturator lymph nodes, but no lung, brain or hepatic involvement. Patients were submitted to nephrectomy and lymphadenectomy followed later by immunotherapy with IFN-α (3 Mil twice a week) + low dose IL-2 (1 Mil/m2/12 h): treatment was given for 4 consecutive weeks and then repeated every 3 weeks for 1 year.
Results. At 30 months’ follow-up all patients showed regression of the disease (100% of cases) and in none of the cases there was evidence of metastases. Only one patient (20%) presented side-effects (nausea, vomiting, slight rise in temperature) all of which disappeared at the end of the first week of treatment.
Conclusions. These results, even if on a limited number of patients and for a limited follow-up period, show that in some patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, treatment with IL-2 and IFN-α following nephrectomy and lymphadenectomy should be considered the therapy of choice.