[Metastatic kidney cancer: new therapeutic approaches]

Abstract

Several promising approaches to the treatment of renal cancer have been developed over recent years. Two independent North American and European studies have demonstrated the value of nephrectomy in patients with metastatic disease: the overall survival of patients treated with interferon was improved by nephrectomy, essentially in patients with a good general status. Several publications have also emphasized the value of surgery for metastases. New experimental approaches have also been developed. Dendritic cells fused with tumour cells induced 4 complete remissions and 2 partial remissions in a series of 17 patients. Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation induced lasting remissions in 10 out of 17 patients. The National Cancer Institute team, in the United States, has developed this approach for patients with an HLA-compatible relative. Finally, various molecules with promising antiangiogenic properties are currently under development in renal cancer.