Purpose: We defined the outcome of a strategy using cytoreductive surgery before high dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Materials and methods: During an 11-year period, 195 patients underwent cytoreductive surgery as preparation for high dose IL-2 based therapy. The renal primary and locoregional metastatic disease that could be safely resected was removed.
Results: Because of the large size 176 of 195 renal tumors (90%) were resected through transabdominal incision and in 45 patients (23%) a second additional significant procedure was performed. Five cases (2.6%) were unresectable and 2 (1%) perioperative deaths occurred. After surgery 121 of 195 patients (62%) were eligible for treatment with high dose IL-2 based protocols. Overall response rate to IL-2 based protocols was 18%.
Conclusions: Cytoreductive surgery can be performed safely in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Although the impact of cytoreductive surgery on response to immunotherapy remains undefined, this combination of primary debulking and systemic IL-2 can result in durable complete tumor regression in some patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.