The Efficacy of Arterial Embolization in Patients with a Renal Cell Carcinoma

Ahn, Kyu Il; Jeon, Seung Hyun; Chang, Sung Goo

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of an arterial embolization in patients with a renal cell carcinoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We studied 17 patients with a renal cell carcinoma that underwent a transcatheter arterial embolization between 1995 and 2004. We studied the patients' character, performance status (ECOG), tumor location, size, stage, symptoms, cause of embolization, prognosis, and survival rate, as well as the follow up period. Patients were classified into three groups: group (I) consisted of patients where the procedure was performed with an angioinfarction only; group (II) consisted of patients where the procedure was performed with an angioinfarction, followed by additional immunotherapy with interferon; group (III) consisted of patients where the procedure was performed with an angioinfarction, followed by additional immunotherapy with interleukin-2, interferon, 5-flourouracil, 13-cis-retinoic acid and H2-blocker.
RESULTS
The patients' ECOG (Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group criteria) scores were 1, 2, 3 and 4 in 2, 6, 6 and 3 patients, respectively. After the transcatheter arterial embolization, symptomatic improvement of the hematuria and pain were observed. All patients had disease progression, with the exception of one stable disease. Group I had a better survival than groups II or III (p=0.036).
CONCLUSIONS
Transcatheter arterial embolization is a safe treatment for patients with a renal cell carcinoma where an operation is unavailable due to a poor performance status or advanced stage. The procedure may not influence the survival rate, but does improve the symptoms; additional immunotherapy may not improve the survival rate either.