Ipsilateral right testicular metastasis from renal cell carcinoma in a responder patient to interleukine-2 treatment.
We present a case of metastatic spreading to the testicle in a 46-year-old patient with renal cell carcinoma, "clear-cell" type, during interleukin-2 combined subcutaneous plus aerosol treatment. Testicular metastasis occurred while the patient showed a response to the treatment with disappearance of lung lesions and reduction of lymph-nodes lesions. After orchiectomy with spermatic cord resection and disease re-evaluation confirming the previous response, the patient re-started immunotherapy. The contrast between systemic disease response to treatment and disease testicular progression might be explained by a relative insensitivity of the testicle to interleukin-2 immunotherapy as a result of a possible establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. We believe that the rarity of this metastatic site and the intriguing possible mechanisms at its base, makes an interesting case for clinicians.
Camerini
Andrea
A
UOC di Oncologia Medica, Ospedale Unico Versilia, Via Aurelia 335, Lido di Camaiore 55043, Lucca, Italy. andreacamerini@katamail.com
Tartarelli
Gianna
G
Martini
Leonardo
L
Donati
Sara
S
Puccinelli
Paolo
P
Amoroso
Domenico
D
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2