Rhabdoid tumor of the kidney in an adult: review of the literature and report of a case responding to interleukin-2.

Abstract

Rhabdoid tumor of the kidney is an uncommon and highly aggressive malignancy usually found in the pediatric age group. This tumor does not respond well to aggressive chemotherapy regimens and survival tends to be short. Only two cases of rhabdoid tumor of the kidney occurring in adults have been described previously. The third case of a rhabdoid tumor of the kidney in an adult is presented here. This clinical case report is unique not only because of the rare occurrence of this tumor in adulthood but because the patient described had an objective antitumor response to outpatient low dose interleukin-2. This single case report may have therapeutic implications for other patients with this tumor.