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RATIONALE According to scientific literature, cryoablation (CA) and electrochemotherapy (ECT) have been used for the treatment of small renal masses. However, no data have been published regarding the combination of these techniques as therapy of primary kidney cancers. Therefore, we report the case of an old woman affected by localized kidney cancer and discuss the potential therapeutic application of CA combined with subsequent deep ECT in this setting. PATIENT CONCERNS An 85 years-old-woman was evaluated because of a localized kidney cancer. Her background history included long-time hypertension and diabetes mellitus in drug treatment. DIAGNOSES In February 2018, the follow-up contrast enhancement computed tomography (ceCT) documented a suspected 18×10 mm metastasis at the lower right lobe of the lung. The ceCT also showed a suspected primary malignancy of 25×18 mm at right kidney. INTERVENTIONS The kidney cancer was treated with a two-phase procedure: percutaneous CA and subsequent deep ECT. OUTCOMES Patient obtained a complete response according to modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, without renal function or quality of life impairment. No procedure-related complications were observed. Moreover, a shorter period of hospitalization and convalescence were needed respect to standard surgery. No sign of relapse was observed during follow-up period. LESSONS This combined strategy proved to be safe and effective. Moreover, the application of these blended loco-regional techniques showed several other advantages such as reduced hospitalization and a shorter period of convalescence respect to standard surgery.

As an angiogenesis inhibitor, bevacizumab has been investigated in combination with different chemotherapeutic agents, achieving an established role for metastatic cancer treatment. However, potential synergic anti-angiogenic effects of hyperthermia have not tested to date in literature. The aim of our study was to analyze efficacy, safety, and survival of anti-angiogenic-based chemotherapy associated to regional deep capacitive hyperthermia (HT) in metastatic cancer patients. Twenty-three patients with metastatic colorectal (n = 16), ovarian (n = 5), and breast (n = 2) cancer were treated with HT in addition to a standard bevacizumab-based chemotherapy regimen. Treatment response assessment was performed, according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors (mRECIST), at 80 days (timepoint-1) and at 160 days (timepoint-2) after therapy. Disease Response Rate (DRR), considered as the proportion of patients who had the best response rating (complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD)), was assessed at timepoint-1 and timepoint-2. Chi-squared for linear trend test was performed to evaluated the association between response groups (R/NR) and the number of previous treatment (none, 1, 2, 3), number of chemotherapy cycles (12), number of hyperthermia sessions (24), and lines of chemotherapy (I, II). Survival curves were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. DRR was 85.7% and 72.2% at timepoint-1 and timepoint-2, respectively. HT was well tolerated without additional adverse effects on chemotherapy-related toxicity. Chi-squared for linear trend test demonstrated that the percentage of responders grew in relation to the number of chemotherapy cycles (p = 0.015) and to number of HT sessions (p < 0.001) performed. Both overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) were influenced by the number of chemotherapy cycles (p < 0.001) and HT sessions (p < 0.001) performed. Our preliminary data, that need to be confirmed in larger studies, suggest that the combined treatment of bevacizumab-based chemotherapy with HT has a favorable tumor response, is feasible and well tolerated, and offers a potentially promising option for metastatic cancer patients.