Possible synergy of radiotherapy and chemo-immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

PURPOSE: Bone metastases or local recurrences are widely viewed as poor prognostic signs for successful immunotherapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and even partial remission is a rarity. We assessed the efficacy of the combination of radio and chemo-immunotherapy for bone metastases or local recurrences form RCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1994 until September 1997 twelve patients with progressive renal cell carcinoma (9 with bone metastases and 3 with local recurrence) were treated with a combination of chemo-immunotherapy and radio therapy. RESULTS: Four out of twelve patients achieved complete remission (CR), one patient had a partial remission (PR), three were stable and four had disease progression under radio therapy and chemo-immunotherapy. Yet three pts. died of the disease. The toxicity symptoms according to WHO ranged between grade 2 and grade 3. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the combination of radio therapy and chemo-immunotherapy may induce a synergistic antitumor effect for the treatment of bone metastases or local recurrences from renal cell carcinoma.