Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of transcatheter renal arterial embolization (TRAE) plus cryoablation in the treatment of medium and advanced stage renal carcinomas.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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).
Conclusion: As compared with TRAE therapy alone, the combination of TRAE and cryoablation may improve the tumor necrosis rate and prolong the patient survival duration.