[Cancer of the kidney. Natural history and therapeutic problems]

Radical nephrectomy with initial ligation of the renal artery and removal en bloc of the perirenal fat and lumboaortic lymphadenectomy was carried out according to the technique of Robson (1969) in 10 cases at the University of Parma 1st Surgical Clinic between 1976 and 1978. The usefulness and superiority of the technique were demonstrated in this albeit small series, which included four stage I, two stage II, one stage III, and four stage IV patients, according to the classification of Flocks et al. Supplementary antiblastic and/or hormonal treatment was given, except in stage I cases. 1.4 mg/m2 Velbe i.v. (1st day) followed by 80 mg/m2 BCNU i.v. (2nd, 3rd, 4th days) was of no avail, whereas progesterone (Depot-provera 200-500 mg/day for 1-3 months) and testosterone propionate (300 mg/week) still seem to be effective. Improvements in this oncological sector, however, are geared to the outcome of radical nephrectomy.