Ipsilateral right testicular metastasis from renal cell carcinoma in a responder patient to interleukine-2 treatment.

Abstract

We present a case of metastatic spreading to the testicle in a 46-year-old patient with renal cell carcinoma, "clear-cell" type, during interleukin-2 combined subcutaneous plus aerosol treatment. Testicular metastasis occurred while the patient showed a response to the treatment with disappearance of lung lesions and reduction of lymph-nodes lesions. After orchiectomy with spermatic cord resection and disease re-evaluation confirming the previous response, the patient re-started immunotherapy. The contrast between systemic disease response to treatment and disease testicular progression might be explained by a relative insensitivity of the testicle to interleukin-2 immunotherapy as a result of a possible establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. We believe that the rarity of this metastatic site and the intriguing possible mechanisms at its base, makes an interesting case for clinicians.

• Authors: Andrea Camerini, Gianna Tartarelli, Leonardo Martini, Sara Donati, Paolo Puccinelli, Domenico Amoroso
• Journal: International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association (Int J Urol) Vol. 14 Issue 3 Pg. 259-60 (Mar 2007) ISSN: 0919-8172 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 17430270 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Interleukin-2

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Carcinoma, Renal Cell (diagnosis, drug therapy, secondary)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Interleukin-2 (therapeutic use)
• Kidney Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Testicular Neoplasms (diagnosis, secondary)