Long-lasting remission of pulmonary metastases of renal cell cancer under IFN-beta therapy in a patient with multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Immunomodulary therapy based on interferon (IFN)-a has been shown to be effective in a subset of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). IFN-Beta has occasionally been reported to induce remissions in RCC, but is well established in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). There is an ongoing debate whether hyperactivation of the immune system may convey protection against the development of cancer in MS patients.


METHODS
A 54-year-old female MS patient underwent tumor nephrectomy for RCC in 1994. 1 year later, several bilateral pulmonary metastases were documented by computed tomography and were histologically confirmed thereafter. Therapy with IFN-Beta was started.


RESULTS
Soon after initiation of IFN-Beta treatment, the patient achieved an almost complete remission which is still ongoing after 10 years of IFN-Beta therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the longest remission under IFN-Beta treatment ever reported in an RCC patient. We conclude that IFN-Beta should be particularly considered as a therapeutic option in the rare occasion of metastatic RCC in patients with MS.
Flörcken
Anne
A
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Germany. anne.floercken@charite.de
Denecke
Timm
T
Kretzschmar
Albrecht
A
Gollasch
Hella
H
Reich
Gernot
G
Westermann
Jörg
J
D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009392:Nephrectomy; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016899:Interferon-beta