Efficacy of cryoablation combined with sorafenib for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

To determine the safety and efficacy of cryoablation combined with sorafenib for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

We conducted an observational study in 156 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma unsuitable for surgical treatment. Participants received cryoablation + sorafenib (n = 67) or sorafenib only (n = 89). Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival time (PFS), overall survival (OS), change in immune function after treatment, rate of adverse events, and quality of life were compared between the two groups.

In the cryoablation + sorafenib group, ORR and DCR were significantly higher and PFS and OS were significantly longer than in the sorafenib only group (both p < .05). Immune function-related indicators were significantly improved after treatment in the cryoablation + sorafenib group (p < .05), but no significant difference was found between before and after treatment in the sorafenib only group (p > .05). The incidence of targeted drug-related side effects was not significantly different between the groups (p > .05), and cryoablation did not increase the risk of side effects of targeted drugs.

Cryoablation combined with sorafenib had superior clinical efficacy compared with sorafenib-only for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma unsuitable for surgical treatment. Moreover, this combined therapy may enhance the body's anti-tumor immunity and effectively prolong PFS and OS without compromising patient quality of life, thus representing a new treatment strategy for advanced renal cell carcinoma.

International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group. 2019 Jan 21 [Epub ahead of print]

Changfu Liu, Fei Cao, Wenge Xing, Tongguo Si, Haipeng Yu, Xueling Yang, Zhi Guo

a Department of Interventional Treatment , Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer , Tianjin , China.