Long-term survival of patients with sarcomatoid renal cell cancer treated with chemotherapy.
Sarcomatoid renal cell cancer is associated with a very poor prognosis, characterized by rapid progression of advanced disease. We previously reported the outcome of 18 patients with advanced sarcomatoid renal cell cancer treated with a regimen consisting of doxorubicin, 50 mg/m2 and gemcitabine, 1,500-2,000 mg/m2, administered every two weeks with growth factor support (A/G). Among the 18 patients, there were two complete and 5 partial responses and two patients with stable disease of more than 6 months of duration. We now report long-term survival of 4 patients with stage IV sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma treated with this regimen at the 1,500 mg/m2 dose of gemcitabine, and achieving complete response (2 patients), or rendered complete responders following surgery after maximum response (2 patients). The two complete responders are alive, disease free at 6+ and 8+ years after starting A/G, and the 2 patients rendered CR by surgery survived 3½ and 6 years, respectively. Both died of progressive disease, one with clear cell recurrence, one with sarcomatoid recurrence. In summary, this regimen is associated with a high response rate, overall improvement in progression free survival and occasional meaningful long-term survival in a disease expected to be fatal within one year.
Dutcher
Janice P
JP
Oncology, New York Medical College, Montefiore, North Division, 600 East 233rd Street, Bronx, NY 10466, USA. jpd4401@aol.com
Nanus
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D000093542:Gemcitabine