Fatal tumoral hemorrhage from brain metastases of renal cell carcinoma after stereotactic radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor and vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapy combinations

Introduction

Brain metastasis in renal cell carcinoma, which is reported in 10% of cases, leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Establishment of appropriate and safe treatment for brain metastasis renal cell carcinoma remains a pressing need.

Case presentation

A 56-year-old female patient, presenting with anorexia, headache, and occipital swelling, was subsequently diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma with multiple metastases, including intracranial and epicranial tumors. The patient initially underwent stereotactic radiotherapy for metastatic brain tumors and then received combination therapy with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib. However, after 30 days of treatment, the patient experienced a sudden loss of consciousness due to massive multifocal intracranial hemorrhage, leading to her death the following day.

Conclusion

Although fatal tumoral hemorrhage during combined stereotactic radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor/VEGF-targeted therapy for patients with brain metastasis renal cell carcinoma is an extremely rare complication, it should always be considered a possibility.