A case report of markedly effective recombinant interferon therapy in residual tumor of renal cell carcinoma

A 53-year-old man complaining of pain in his right upper abdomen was diagnosed as suffering from right renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus. Right nephrectomy was performed but curative operation was not possible because of the adhesion of the tumor to psoas muscle. The residual tumor spread to the second lumbar vertebra and the patient complained of lumbago. The tumor continued to grow and the patient suffered from paraplegia even after the administration of natural interferon for 32 weeks. The administration of 9 x 10(6) units of recombinant interferon alfa 2a three times a week, however, resulted in an 86.5% reduction of the tumor after 13 weeks and the patient between able to walk. The PR continued for 17 months.