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

Takeo Kosaka, Shuji Mikami, Akira Miyajima, Mototsugu Oya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)155-158
Number of pages4
JournalClinical and experimental nephrology
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008 Apr 1

Keywords

  • Interleukin-2
  • Metastatic renal cell carcinoma
  • Papillary renal cell carcinoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Nephrology
  • Physiology (medical)

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