Advanced sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma effectively treated with sunitinib: report of a case

We report a case of advanced sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (RCC) effectively treated with sunitinib. A 77-year-old female who had gross hematuria and left lower abdominal pain was found to have a left renal tumor by computed tomography (CT) and was referred to our hospital. CT revealed a poorly enhanced mass in the left kidney and an enlarged paraaortic lymph node. The patient underwent laparoscopic left nephrectomy, and the tumor was histologically diagnosed as a sarcomatoid RCC. Sunitinib was administered to treat lymph node metastasis, postoperatively, and a partial response was observed after 4 courses. Sunitinib administration has been continued without tumor re-growth.