[Adjuvant chemotherapy with vinblastine, adriamycin and UFT (VAU) for renal cell carcinoma]

We tried adjuvant chemotherapy with vinblastine, adriamycin, and UFT on thirty-one renal cell carcinoma patients in stage I, II or III to determine whether or not it might improve their survival rate. The patients were started on adjuvant chemotherapy with vinblastine 5 mg/m2 i.v. and adriamycin 30/m2 i.v. 7 to 14 days after surgery, and drugs were administered every 4 weeks for a total of 5 times. UFT was administered orally in a dose of 3 capsules (300 mg as tegafur) daily for 2 to 3 years. The postoperative period averaged 4 years and 2 months with a range of 2 years and 6 months to 7 years and 1 month. The 1-year survival rate for the 31 patients was 100%, and 3- and 5-year survival rates were 96%. These results were encouraging, compared to the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 81%, 72% and 60% achieved in a series of 60 renal cell carcinoma patients in stage I, II or III without adjuvant chemotherapy. Side effects such as alopecia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and myelosuppression were observed, but all symptoms were so mild or transient that the treatment could be continued in the patients.