Urology Case Reports (Mar 2020)

Neoadjuvant checkpoint inhibition in renal cell carcinoma associated Stauffer's syndrome

  • Kevin Zarrabi,
  • Selma Masic,
  • Christopher Schaefer,
  • Michael J. Bartel,
  • Alexander Kutikov,
  • Matthew Zibelman

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29

Abstract

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Stauffer's syndrome is a paraneoplastic phenomenon associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) characterized by cholestatic hepatitis. We explore the effects of perioperative immunotherapy in a case of Stauffer's syndrome. A 70-year-old female with a locally advanced clear cell RCC (ccRCC) developed severe hyperbilirubinemia. The patient's cholestasis progressed despite initial systemic immunotherapy, but improved after cytoreductive nephrectomy. The patient continued immunotherapy post-operatively and regained normalized hepatic function. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting use of systemic immunotherapy with surgery in Stauffer's syndrome, and we provide clinical insight into a treatment regimen which may be employed in future cases. Keywords: Renal cell carcinoma, Stauffer's syndrome, Immunotherapy