Clinical efficacy of transcatheter renal arterial embolization plus cryoablation for medium and advanced renal carcinomas

Abstract

To investigate the clinical efficacy of transcatheter renal arterial embolization (TRAE) plus cryoablation in the treatment of medium and advanced stage renal carcinomas. The patients with medium and advanced stage renal carcinomas were randomized into 2 groups: TRAE group (A, n = 53) and TRAE plus cryoablation group (B, n = 51) undergoing cryoablation 2 - 3 weeks after TRAE. A total of 128 tumors (8.7 ± 3.2) (4.0 - 19.8) cm in diameter were detected. And the largest tumor in a specific patient with multiple lesions was selected for observation. At pre- and post-treatment, their clinical symptoms, kidney function and tumor diameters (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) were observed. And their post-treatment profiles of tumor necrosis and survival were assessed. There was no difference in gender, age, size and Robson stage between two groups. The tumor necrosis of Group B was significantly higher than that of Group A (61% vs 35%, t = 6.784, P < 0.01). The median survival duration of Group B was significantly longer than that of Group A (24 vs 15 months, P < 0.05). There was no significant change of kidney function at pre- and post-treatment (P > 0.05). The quality-of-life scores improved at post-treatment (P < 0.01). As compared with TRAE therapy alone, the combination of TRAE and cryoablation may improve the tumor necrosis rate and prolong the patient survival duration.