Sorafenib Induces Therapeutic Response in a Patient with Metastatic Collecting Duct Carcinoma of Kidney

BACKGROUND: Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) is a rare and aggressive variant of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which has poor response to cytokine therapy and chemotherapy. Introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), in particular sorafenib and sunitinib, is changing the treatment paradigm for management of RCC. However, patients with CDC have been excluded from the majority of randomised trials involving the use of TKIs. CASE REPORT: Our patient with metastatic CDC was treated with sorafenib, and demonstrated an excellent response, both clinically and radiologically. She continues on sorafenib treatment with minimal toxicity, and has demonstrated a progression-free survival exceeding 13 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of a patient with CDC responding to sorafenib treatment. Therefore, the role of sorafenib in the management of metastatic CDC needs prospective evaluation.