Unexpected 10 years complete remission after cortisone mono-therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Hormone signaling pathways as treatment targets in renal cell cancer (Review)

“…Over 10 years of complete remission (CR) was demonstrated in patients with retroperitoneal lymph node involvement and liver metastases. This observation supports the thesis that GR and its agonists may play an important role in anticancer ccRCC therapy (66). Using dexamethasone in combination with kinase inhibitors was examined (59).…”

Expression of the glucocorticoid receptor in renal cell neoplasms: an immunohistochemical and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction study

“…Tanaka et al [38] reported another case of complete regression of multiple lung and bone metastases of RCC after palliative treatment with betamethasone. In addition, Christophersen et al [39] described a 10-year complete remission after cortisone monotherapy as palliative treatment in a patient with CCRCC with histologically confirmed metastases to the liver and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Although the exact mechanism of spontaneous regression of metastases from RCC in the cases described above is unknown, it is not likely to be immune related, because glucocorticoids are known to suppress the immune system.…”

“…In addition, low-dose Dexamethasone therapy is beneficial in the treatment of hematopoietic neoplasms (multiple myeloma) as well as solid malignancies, such as hormone-refractory prostate cancer [30,36]. Although glucocorticoids have not been used as hormonal therapies in the treatment of patients with RCC, there are few anecdotal reports describing the effects of Dexamethasone treatment in metastatic RCCs [37][38][39]. Spontaneous regression of cerebral and pulmonary metastases in a patient with RCC was described by Omland and Fosså [37].…”

Steroid Receptors in Renal Cell Carcinoma

“…In another case, multiple lung and bone metastases of RCC completely regressed after palliative treatment with betamethasone (Tanaka et al 2003). A 10 year complete remission of metastatic RCC to the liver and retroperitoneal lymph nodes was described in a patient who received palliative cortisone therapy (Christophersen et al 2006). The mechanism of metastases regression in these cases is unknown and is not likely to be immune related, because glucocorticoids are known to suppress the immune system.…”

“…Glucocorticoids have long been used as anti-inflammatory drugs, and have been beneficial in the treatment of hematopoietic neoplasms (multiple myeloma) and solid malignancies such as hormone-refractory prostate cancer (Greenstein et al 2002;Storlie et al 1995). Although glucocorticoids have not been implicated in the treatment of patients with renal cancer, there are few case reports describing the beneficial effects of incidental glucocorticoid treatment in metastatic RCC (Christophersen et al 2006;Omland & Fossa 1989;Tanaka et al 2003). Palliation treatment with oral dexamethasone was associated with complete regression of pulmonary and brain metastases (Omland & Fossa 1989).…”