Using Pazopanib and Radiotherapy to Treat Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma with Acrometastases
Cigdem Usul Afsar *
Department of Medical Oncology, Tekirdag Corlu State Hospital, Tekirdag, Turkey.
Semra Paydas
Department of Medical Oncology, Cukurova University Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most common urological cancer. Skeletal metastases from renal cell carcinoma are common, but metastatic tumors involving the hand and foot are rare. This is known as acrometastases and is usually a late manifestation ofdisseminated disease.
Case: We present a metastatic case of RCC with acrometastases. Pazopanib treatment was started and there was a quick but short-term response. The patient refused to have surgery for hand lesions so radiotherapy was given. The patient is in good health and under pazopanib treatment.
Conclusion: RCC patients with acral metastases have a short median survival and a choice of treatment should be made considering this poor prognosis. Surgery is the usual choice for treatment. However, if there are multiple digital metastases the quality of life of the patient should be taken into account. Palliative radiotherapy and pazopanib helped our patient and improved his quality of life.
Keywords: Renal cell carcinoma, pazopanib, acrometastases.