Successful treatment of erythropoietin-producing advanced renal cell carcinoma after targeted therapy using sunitinib: Case report and review of the literature

Ueda,Kosuke; Suekane,Shigetaka; Chikui,Katsuaki; Nakiri,Makoto; Moriya,Fukuko; Hayashi,Tokumasa; Miyajima,Jiro; Matsuoka,Kei

doi:10.3892/mco.2012.5

Successful treatment of erythropoietin-producing advanced renal cell carcinoma after targeted therapy using sunitinib: Case report and review of the literature

Authors:
- Kosuke Ueda
- Shigetaka Suekane
- Katsuaki Chikui
- Makoto Nakiri
- Fukuko Moriya
- Tokumasa Hayashi
- Jiro Miyajima
- Kei Matsuoka
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Affiliations: Department of Urology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
Published online on: August 3, 2012 https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2012.5
Pages: 112-116

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Abstract

In general, only ≤5% of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) develop paraneoplastic erythropoietin (EPO) overproduction‑induced polycythemia. However, a number of reports on EPO‑producing RCC are available. The present study aimed to report the first case of a patient demonstrating a therapeutic effect on EPO‑producing advanced RCC, subsequent to targeted pre‑surgical sunitinib therapy, with a review of the literature. The patient involved was a 62-year-old male who presented with a malformation of the left scrotum. Examination revealed a tumor of 73 mm in diameter along with lymph node metastasis. The histological examination indicated a clear cell RCC containing viable cells as well as hemorrhage and necrosis. EPO in cancer cells was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, a case of EPO-producing RCC with polycythemia was diagnosed. The EPO-producing RCC was successfully treated following targeted presurgical therapy with sunitinib.

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