Immunotherapy of metastatic renal cancer

Various reports in the literature suggested active specific immunotherapy to be highly efficient in metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC). Thirty five patients with tumor stage III or IV, according to Robson, were treated with autologous or homologous cell vaccine after radical nephrectomy had been performed. In stage III tumors immunotherapy was administered as prophylaxis or after an interval, when metastases occurred. Clinical results during a 3-year follow-up period revealed no statistically significant differences in comparison to an age-matched control group. There was no advantage in employing autologous instead of homologous therapy. Three-year survival rate in stage IV tumors with autologous vaccination was 11% vs. 6% in tumors with homologous therapy. Two complete and two partial tumor remissions occurred.