[Intralesional and transarterial administration of interferon for renal cell carcinoma]

Topical administration of interferon for locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma in 2 cases was reported. Case 1: a 56-year-old woman had undergone radical nephrectomy for left renal cell carcinoma. She had a locally recurrent tumor adjacent to spleen 26 months after the surgery. She received 3 million units of interferon alpha every day intralesionally for almost 3 years without any distant metastasis. Case 2: a 59-year-old man had undergone left radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. He had recurrent tumor contiguous to spleen 24 months after nephrectomy. With Seldinger method a catheter was indwelled selectively in splenic artery. Two million units of interferon gamma was administered through the catheter, twice a week for 4 weeks, and once a week in subsequent course. The tumor showed necrosis on CT film. He died of DIC 5 months after the initiation of intraarterial administration of interferon gamma. Topical use of interferon showed some favorable effects in both cases even after the failure of systemic administration. Further investigation is warranted to demonstrate the advantage of topical use of interferon over systemic administration.