[A case of favorable response after combination treatment with interferon-α and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor against metastatic renal cell carcinoma].

We present a patient showing favourable response after combination treatment with interferon-α (IFN- α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) inhibitor (celecoxib) against metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The patient underwent left radical nephrectomy for RCC on 18th April, 2005. On follow-up computed tomographic scan, mediastinal metastasis was detected 3 years after nephrectomy, and metastasectomy was performed. The histological features were clear cell carcinoma as was the primary RCC, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed negative for Cox-2 staining both the primary and metastatic lesions. Aiming at the treatment of residual mediastinal RCC, the patient started to receive IFN-α, and this cytokine therapy lasted for 1 year and 2 months. Nevertheless, the outcome was progression of disease (PD), namely, new lung field lesions were observed. A different type of IFN-α treatment also resulted in PD. Based upon these results, a combination of IFN-α and Cox-2 inhibitor was newly adopted for treatment. After the combination therapy for 3 months, 68.75% of metastases disappeared. We concluded that Cox-2 inhibitor is a potent medicine in combination with IFN-α for metastatic lung tumour from RCC.