[Therapy of metastasizing kidney cancer with hormones (androgens). A retrospective study]

A report is given on the results of a hormone therapy of metastatic renal carcinomas using androgens. Out of 38 patients with Robson stage III or IV renal carcinomas, palliative tumour nephrectomy or embolization of the renal artery was operatively performed. 23 patients underwent no operation. 20 patients received 250 mg testosterone per week for 4 weeks and then per month. 18 patients had no therapy. 14 out of the group of 20 with androgen therapy died within a year (70%), 3 patients survived for more than 3 years. 13 out of the group of 18 without androgen therapy (72%) died within a year, 2 (11%) survived for more than 3 years. In no case was a remission observed.