Successful interferon-alpha therapy of renal cell carcinoma with lung metastasis: a case report

A 67-year-old man was admitted with a chief complaint of dyspnea. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a left renal tumor, 12 cm in diameter, with tumor thrombus in the left renal vein, multiple lung metastases, right pleural effusion, and para-aortic lymph node metastases. Because of poor condition in respiratory status, nephrectomy was considered to be impossible and the patient was administered 6×10? IU of interferon-alpha daily. Then, 6×10? IU was also administered three times a week. At 14 months after interferon-alpha therapy, CT scan showed complete remission of lung, pleura metastases and right pleural effusion, and the left renal tumor was markedly reduced in size. Because of improvement of general condition, nephrectomy of the left kidney was performed. Twenty-seven months after the start of interferon-alpha therapy, the patient is alive without evidence of disease.     

Bilateral adrenal metastases from renal cell carcinoma: a case report

We report a case of renal cell carcinoma with bilateral adrenal metastases. A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for a left renal mass. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 4.5 cm left renal tumor and bilateral adrenal masses (3.0 cm on the right side and 2.0 cm on the left). A left nephrectomy and bilateral adrenalectomies were performed. The pathological findings showed clear cell carcinoma, G2 of left kidney metastasizing to both adrenal glands. The patient was administered supplementary hydrocortisone and was well 8 months after the nephrectomy and adrenalectomies without evidence of recurrence. Bilateral adrenal metastases from renal cell carcinoma are relatively rare. Our case seems to be the thirteenth case in the Japanese literature.     

Scrotal skin metastases of renal cell carcinoma: a case report

A 52-year old male, with a history of radical nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma ten years ago, presented with a lesion on the scrotum which was diagnosed as a metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.     

Complete remission of lung and hepatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma by interferon alpha-2b therapy: a case report]

A right renal tumor was found in a 74-year-old man with multiple metastases to the lungs and liver. Tumor thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava and a right spermatic varicocele were also noted at the first visit. Interferon alpha-2b and interferon gamma were administered for treatment. Partial remission of lung metastases, complete remission of hepatic metastases, and disappearance of the varicocele occurred after 4, 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Then the primary right renal tumor was resected. Although only interferon alpha-2b was continued twice weekly by self-injection, complete remission of the lung metastases was obtained 13 weeks after the initiation of therapy. No evidence of recurrence or new metastasis has been found after 18 months. These results indicate that even advanced renal cell carcinoma may show a rapid response to interferon alpha. Interferon alpha is worth trying for metastatic renal cell carcinoma and should be continued for at least a few months.     

Gastro-pleuro-pericardial fistula following combined radiation and chemotherapy for lung metastases from renal cell carcinoma: report of a case

Gastropleural and gastropericardial fistulas are abnormal communications between the stomach and the pleural cavity or pericardium. They are rare and life-threatening complications, which require prompt surgical intervention. We report the case of a gastro-pleuro-pericardial fistula that developed in a patient treated with radiotherapy and then Sunitinib (Sutent^®), a novel tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, for lung metastases from renal cell carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a gastro-pleuro-pericardial fistula developing as a consequence of combined radiation and chemotherapy.     

A case of renal cell carcinoma with lung metastases successfully treated by interferon-beta

A case of renal cell carcinoma with multiple lung metastases successfully treated with interferon (IFN) following nephrectomy is reported. A 46-year-old man consulted our institute complaining of left flank pain for 3 months on June 18, 1983. Macroscopic hematuria consisting of blood clot had also been found 1 week before. For a diagnosis of left renal carcinoma with multiple lung metastases, he was admitted. After total nephrectomy, 30 x 10(6) units per day of natural IFN-beta were administered intravenously every other day for 2 months (total dose; 269 x 10(6) units). One of the pulmonary lesions disappeared, but another increased in size and a new lesion was also found. Therefore, this trial was evaluated to be progression. Thereafter, he was treated with 600 mg/day of carmofur (HCFU) and was in a stable condition. As his lung lesions progressed at 11 months after nephrectomy, 9 x 10(6) units/day of recombinant IFN-beta were additionally administered 5 days a week for 4 weeks. When the treatment was completed (total dose; 180 x 10(6) units), the pulmonary lesions disappeared. The complete response lasted for 9 months. However, on May, 1985, bone metastasis to lumbar vertebra was found and he died on November 4, 1985 without any evidence of relapse at lung field.     

索拉非尼治疗伴有终末期肾病的转移性肾癌一例报告并文献复习

目的 探讨索拉非尼治疗伴有终末期肾病的转移性肾癌的可行性. 方法 应用索拉非尼治疗伴有终末期肾病的转移性肾癌患者1例.患者,女,65岁.左肾透明细胞癌接受根治性肾切除术后4个月,因终末期肾病开始血液透析.术后12个月,发现双肺转移.应用干扰素或IL-2治疗无效.二线应用索拉非尼400 mg,2次/d口服.维持血液透析每周3次.通过PubMed检索相关文献报道结果,总结其可行性. 结果 索拉非尼治疗前右肺病灶大小2.7 cm ×2.4 cm,左肺病灶2.6 cm×2.0 cm.服药2个月时因手足皮肤反应停药2周,恢复治疗后持续用药至2011年12月共52个月.用药6个月时,双肺转移病灶均有缩小,疗效评价为稳定(SD,REGIST标准).服药12个月时,双肺病灶继续缩小,右肺病灶1.8cm×1.0,cm;左肺病灶呈条索样,疗效评价为部分缓解(PR).至随访截止,双肺病灶均已呈条索样改变.检索PubMed共有6篇类似报道,患者9例,其中疗效评价7例,PR 3例,SD 4例.药物不良反应无明显加重. 结论 索拉非尼治疗伴有终末期肾病的转移性肾癌疗效确实,不良反应与肾功能正常患者相似.     

A case of renal cell carcinoma with multiple lung metastases refractory to interferon-α showing complete remission by interleukin-2 monotherapy

We report a case in which a regimen of interleukin-2 (IL-2) achieved pathologically complete remission against renal cell carcinoma with multiple lung metastases. A 63-year-old man was admitted to the Osaka University Hospital with a right renal tumor and multiple lung metastases. Right radical nephrectomy was performed and the histological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma, G3 > G2, INFbeta, pT3a, pN0. Postoperatively, despite treatment with interferon-alpha, the lung metastases progressed. Consequently, intravenous administration of IL-2 was started at a dose of 70 x 10(4) JRU/day five times per week. After 16 weeks of IL-2 therapy, most of the multiple lung metastases completely vanished and the largest metastatic lung mass was reduced in size. Resection of this residual lung mass was performed and pathological examination revealed no viable cancer cells.     

Small intestinal metastases from renal cell carcinoma: a case report and literature review

We report a case of small intestinal metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a 57-year-old female. The patient had undergone partial nephrectomy for a right RCC (pT1aN0M0) in June 1997. She later developed multiple metastases, in the lungs, brain, and bone, and was admitted with nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss in April 2003. She presented with melaena a few weeks after her admission and a computed tomographic scan revealed a small bowel mass that was not definitively diagnosed. We removed the mass surgically, and the histological features confirmed the diagnosis as metastatic RCC. The patient recovered and could consume, but died of brain metastases 102 days after the surgery. Metastasis of RCC in the small bowel is a rare entity clinically. To our knowledge, this is only the 20th case of small intestinal metastasis from RCC reported in the Japanese and English literature.     

Metastatic type-2 papillary renal cell carcinoma responded to interleukin-2 therapy: case report

This report documents a case of metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) which successfully responded to interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy. A 59-year-old male presented with a left renal mass measuring 3.0 cm in diameter and a right adrenal mass measuring 5.0 cm in diameter. He underwent a left partial nephrectomy and a right adrenalectomy. The histological findings revealed pT1bN1M1 type-2 PRCC and metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the right adrenal gland. The patient was given interferon-α (IFN-α) after the operation for 3 months. A CT scan revealed a metastatic nodule measuring 6.0 cm in diameter near the surface of the liver at 4 months after the opereation. The patient was given interleukin-2 (IL-2), 7 × 10⁵ units/day intravenously, for 3 days per week. A CT scan revealed this hepatic nodule to have decreased in size from 6.0 to 4.0 cm after 4 months of IL-2 therapy. However, a new metastatic nodule measuring 6.0 cm in diameter was found which came in contact with the spleen. Next, the patient was given an increased dose of IL-2 from 7 × 10⁵ to 1.4 × 10⁶ units/day intravenously, for 3 days per week. At 9 months of follow-up after the dose escalation, a CT scan revealed a dramatic decrease in the size of these two metastatic nodules to 1.5 and 0.5 cm, respectively. This is a very rare case in that it represents a type-2 PRCC which dramatically responded to low-dose IL-2 therapy.     

Multiple pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma treated effectively by recombinant interleukin-2

A 53-year old male with multiple pulmonary metastases from a renal cell carcinoma was treated with high dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). rIL-2 was administered intravenously, and the dose was gradually increased to a subsequent daily dosage of 3 x 10(6) units for a total amount of 470 x 10(6) units. After 3 months, plain chest film and chest computerized tomography revealed a remarkable reduction in pulmonary metastases. There were no side effects except general fatigue and fever. Immunological studies revealed an increase in lymphocytes and enhancement of natural killer activity. These results suggested that rIL-2 is effective for pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma.     

Successful treatment for a large renal cell carcinoma with tumour thrombus

We report the case of a 41-year-old man with symptoms of exertional dyspnoea and easy fatigue. Physical examination revealed a palpable mass with knocking pain over the right flank region and a cardiac murmur with jugular vein engorgement. Transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a right atrial mass that caused tricuspid inflow obstruction. Computed tomography revealed a giant mass (approximately 15 x 15 cm2) in the right kidney; this finding was consistent with renal cell carcinoma. Despite the metastatic status, right nephrectomy was performed and the intra-atrial tumour thrombus (TT) was resected under a cardiopulmonary bypass in order to relieve the tricuspid obstruction. Histological examination confirmed renal cell carcinoma with TT. The patient is healthy with satisfactory systolic function at 1-year follow-up.     

Ureteral and bladder metastases of renal cell carcinoma following synchronous renal cell carcinoma and bladder cancer; a case report

A 73-year-old man presented with gross hematuria. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography showed small bladder tumors and a left renal mass protruding to renal pelvis. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor and ureteroscopic tumor biopsy were performed, and pathological examinations revealed transitional cell carcinoma in the bladder and renal cell carcinoma in the kidney. He underwent left radical nephrectomy. A 4-month postoperative cystoscopy revealed a solitaly non-papillary tumor in the bladder. Transurethral resection was performed and pathological diagnosis was metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. At that time, multiple metastases to ureteral stump and lung were found. He had undergone palliative treatment because of his poor general condition until he died 26 months postoperatively. Care should be taken for management of ureteral stump when diagnostic ureteroscopy was done for renal cell carcinoma invading the renal pelvis.     

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma: a case report

A 75-year-old male presented to our hospital with a complaint of macroscopic hematuria. Laboratory examinations in peripheral blood showed slight anemia and the increase of acute phase reactants (c-reactive protein, immunosuppressive acidic protein, alpha 2-globulin). Abdominal enhanced computerized tomography revealed a huge tumor with calcification at the upper pole of the right kidney. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a low intensity mass at the upper portion of the right kidney on T2-weighted sequences. The right radical nephrectomy was performed and the histopathological diagnosis was sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma because of positive immunohistochemical staining for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin. Because sarcomatoid type has a highly malignant behavior and poor prognosis among renal cell carcinomas, an adjuvant treatment which is effective in controlling the disease is awaited.     

Immune thrombocytopenia during interferon-alfa therapy for renal cell carcinoma

Immune thrombocytopenia is a rare complication of interferon-alfa (IFN-alpha). A patient with renal cell carcinoma developed severe thrombocytopenia during therapy with purified IFN-alpha. The patient's exposure to IFN, exclusion of other causes, and bone marrow biopsy were consistent with drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Cessation of IFN and corticosteroid administration resulted in the prompt recovery of platelets. The patient was re-challenged with recombinant IFN-alpha-2b under careful observation; there was no occurrence of severe thrombocytopenia. It was suggested that the difference of the subtypes composing IFN-alpha resulted in the lack of cross reactivity.     

Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma: a case report

Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma is an uncommon subtype of renal cell carcinoma and the number of cases studied is still limited in Japan. We here report a case of chromophobe cell renal carcinoma in a 41-year-old Mexican male. He visited our branch hospital with the symptom of upper abdominal pain. Ultrasound examination showed a left renal mass. He was admitted to our hospital for treatment of a left renal mass. Radiological examinations revealed a hypervascular tumor in the left kidney. Under the clinical diagnosis of possible renal cell carcinoma, left radical nephrectomy was performed. This tumor was diagnosed as chromophobe cell renal carcinoma with a microscopic examination of H & E stained specimens, histochemical staining using Hale's colloidal iron and an ultrastructural study.     

Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma: a case report

We report a case of chromophobe cell renal carcinoma. A 45-year-old woman with a chief complaint of macrohematuria and left backache was introduced to our hospital in October 1998. Abdominal computed tomographic scan (CT) revealed a solitary, solid mass (16 x 14 x 12 cm) at the upper pole of the left kidney. Angiography showed a hypervascular character but irregular neovasculizations were found. We performed a radical nephrectomy with a preoperative diagnosis of malignant renal tumor. The cut surface appearance of the tumor was homogeneous, grey-beige and solid. Light microscopic findings revealed voluminous cells with light, but not clear cytoplasm displaying a fine reticular pattern. Histochemical staining with Hale's colloidal iron stain demonstrated a distinctly positive cytoplasmic reaction. Since the ultrastructural study revealed numerous intracytoplasmic microvesicles, we finally reached the diagnosis of chromophobe cell renal carcinoma. We report our case here with reference to the relevant literature.     

Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma: a case report

We report a case of chromophobe cell carcinoma in a 41-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital because of right upper abdominal pain. We performed right radical nephrectomy under the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. The cut surface appearance of the tumor was homogeneous, grey beige and solid. This tumor was diagnosed as chromophobe cell renal carcinoma after microscopic and immunohistochemical studies. We report our case with reference to the relevant literature.     

Spontaneous regression of lung metastasis of renal cell carcinoma: a case report

A chest X-ray tomography revealed a metastatic shadow in the left lung of a 56-year-old man with pathologically established right renal cell carcinoma. The shadow was found to be regressed to a fibrous lesion on the 18th day after radical nephrectomy. Because of non-A, non-B, hepatitis, the anticancer treatment with alpha-interferon and 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl-5-fluorouracil) was started 40 days after the nephrectomy. At that time, only a fibrous lesion was noted at the site of lung metastatic shadow. At present, the patient remains free of disease for 21 months after nephrectomy.     

Complete remission of advanced renal cell carcinoma by chemotherapy and surgical treatment: a case report

A rare case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma which represented complete remission by chemotherapy and surgical treatment is presented. A 59-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of general fatigue, weight loss and appetite loss. The diagnosis of right renal tumor metastasized to both lungs and extending into the inferior vena cava was made by radiographic findings. Because of very poor general condition the first choice of treatment was chemotherapy with cisdichlorodiamine platinum, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil) (UFT), and OK432. Five months after the beginning of chemotherapy both lung coin lesions disappeared completely, and radical nephrectomy including venacavotomy and tumor thrombectomy was performed. At present, 6 months after the radical nephrectomy, she is free from the disease and complete remission has been obtained by oral administration of 400 mg/day UFT and 5.0 KE OK432 intracutaneous injection every week.