Presurgical Treatment with Axitinib and Pembrolizumab Reduced Operation Risk by Downsizing the Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma : A Case Report

• Published in: Hinyokika kiyo. Acta urologica Japonica Vol. 67; no. 10; pp. 443 - 447
• Main Authors: Inaba, Sota, Sasaki, Takeshi, Hattori, Yuna, Terabe, Takashi, Kato, Momoko, Higashi, Shinichiro, Kato, Manabu, Masui, Satoru, Yoshio, Yuko, Nishikawa, Kouhei, Hayasaki, Aoi, Yamanaka, Takashi, Uchida, Katsunori, Inoue, Takahiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - therapeutic use; Axitinib - therapeutic use; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - surgery; Female; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms - drug therapy; Kidney Neoplasms - surgery; Nephrectomy; Thrombectomy; Thrombosis - drug therapy; Thrombosis - surgery; Vena Cava, Inferior - diagnostic imaging; Vena Cava, Inferior - surgery
• ISSN: 0018-1994
• DOI: 10.14989/ActaUrolJap_67_10_443

A woman in her seventies complained of chest pain during exertion and visited a local hospital. Computed tomographic scan showed right renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus extending above the diaphragm, and the patient was referred to our hospital. She was diagnosed with right renal cell carcinoma cT3cN0M0, with level IV IVC thrombus by Mayo classification. Axitinib and pembrolizumab were administered against intractable advanced renal cell carcinoma. The dose of axitinib was reduced due to grade 3 liver dysfunction. Right nephrectomy together with IVC thrombectomy was performed because the primary lesion had shrunk, and the level of IVC thrombus had become level III. The pathological results were clear cell carcinoma, pT3c, G3, Fuhrman grade3, INFA, v1, and ly0. Axitinib and pembrolizumab might be a presurgical option against an intractable renal cell carcinoma with an IVC thrombus.