Radical metastasectomy followed by sorafenib versus observation in patients withclear cell renal cell carcinoma: extended follow -up of efficacy results from the randomized phase II RESORT trial

Background: The RESORT trial showed no longer relapse free survival (RFS) with sorafenib following radical metastasectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We present the updated 42-month follow-up data.Methods: The phase II RESORT trial randomized patients to sorafenib or observation within 12 weeks from surgery. RFS was the primary endpoint.Results: We analyzed 68 patients (32 in sorafenib and 36 in the observation arm), randomized between November 2012 and November 2017. Eighty-one percent in the sorafenib arm and 80% in the observation arm had one metastasis . At a median follow-up of 42 months (interquartile range 31-58), in the observation arm the median RFS was 35 months, RFS probability was 57% (95% CI 42-76%) at 24 and 44% (95% CI 30-65%) at 48 months. In the sorafenib arm, median RFS was 21 months, RFS probability was 50% (95% CI 34-71%) at 24 and 32% (95% CI 18-57%) at 48 months (p = 0.342;HR 1.35;95% CI 0.72-2.54). Forty-seven percent and 37.5% of the patients in the two arms, respectively, are disease free. The site of relapses was independent of the previous metastasectomy site.Expert commentary: Sorafenib after metastasectomy did not improve RFS, but surgery in selected patients should be considered in order to potentially improve survival.Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT0144480.

18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT for response assessment in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma undergoing tyrosine kinase or checkpoint inhibitor therapy: preliminary results

Introduction

Tyrosine kinase (TKI) and checkpoint inhibitors (CI) prolonged overall survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Early prediction of treatment response is highly desirable for the individualization of patient management and improvement of therapeutic outcome; however, serum biochemistry is unable to predict therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, we compared ¹⁸F-PSMA-1007 PET imaging for response assessment in mRCC patients undergoing TKI or CI therapy compared to CT-based response assessment as the current imaging reference standard.

Methods

¹⁸F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT was performed in mRCC patients prior to initiation of systemic treatment and 8 weeks after therapy initiation. Treatment response was evaluated separately on ¹⁸F-PSMA-PET and CT. Changes on PSMA-PET (SUV_mean) were assessed on a per patient basis using a modified PERCIST scoring system. Complete response (CR_PET) was defined as absence of any uptake in all target lesions on posttreatment PET. Partial response (PR_PET) was defined as decrease in summed SUV_mean of > 30%. The appearance of new, PET-positive lesions or an increase in summed SUV_mean of > 30% was defined as progressive disease (PD_PET). A change in summed SUV_mean of ± 30% defined stable disease (SD_PET). RECIST 1.1 criteria were used for response assessment on CT. Results of radiographic response assessment on PSMA-PET and CT were compared.

Results

Overall, 11 mRCC patients undergoing systemic treatment were included. At baseline PSMA-PET₁, all mRCC patients showed at least one PSMA-avid lesion. On follow-up PET₂, 3 patients showed CR_PET, 3 PR_PET, 4 SD_PET, and 1 PD_PET. According to RECIST 1.1, 1 patient showed PR_CT, 9 SD_CT, and 1 PD_CT. Overall, concordant classifications were found in only 2 cases (2 SD_CT + PET). Patients with CR_PET on PET were classified as 3 SD_CT on CT using RECIST 1.1. By contrast, the patient classified as PR_CT on CT showed PSMA uptake without major changes during therapy (SD_PET). However, among 9 patients with SD_CT on CT, 3 were classified as CR_PET, 3 as PR_PET, 1 as PD_PET, and only 2 as SD_PET on PSMA-PET.

Conclusion

On PSMA-PET, heterogeneous courses were observed during systemic treatment in mRCC patients with highly diverging results compared to RECIST 1.1. In the light of missing biomarkers for early response assessment, PSMA-PET might allow more precise response assessment to systemic treatment, especially in patients classified as SD on CT.

Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Immunotherapies Have Demonstrated Overall Survival Benefits While Targeted Therapies Have Not

CONTEXT

Current guidelines suggest several targeted therapies (TTs) and immunotherapies (ITs) in the treatment of advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Ideal sequencing of these treatments is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective was to evaluate the overall survival (OS) data of the treatments approved for mRCC. Secondary objectives included evaluating other signs of efficacy and adverse events.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We reviewed the current Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for mRCC. Trials associated with approval were reviewed. We also included pre- and postapproval publications when appropriate.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

There is minimal evidence supporting OS benefit for the nine approved TTs. They result in adverse events and are a considerable economic burden. For these reasons, their future role in mRCC treatment should be re-evaluated, given the emergence of IT that have demonstrated OS benefits. Accumulating long-term survival data with high-dose interleukin-2 treatment suggests that this older treatment could still be considered for eligible patients. Checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising OS and durable responses; as such, the high cost of treatment might be justified. However, the available evidence does not suggest that adding TT to IT would increase efficacy over IT alone, but would add toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Trial data supporting OS benefit are much stronger for ITs than for TTs. Combining checkpoint inhibitors with TTs has not been shown to produce better OS than checkpoint inhibitors alone, while more adverse events are present. Granting drug approvals based on efficacy without demonstrated OS benefit should be revisited.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Approved treatments for metastatic kidney cancer include targeted and immune-based therapies. The former commonly produces temporary tumour shrinkage, but survival benefits are unclear. All approved immunotherapies have increased survival, and a proportion of patients appear cured.

Role of circulating tumor cells in patients with metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

Circulating tumor cells (CTC) have been demonstrated to have prognostic and predictive role in certain human cancers. However, studies exploring their role in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic and predictive role of CTC in mRCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective study, 35 patients with mRCC were analyzed for the presence of CTC before starting tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Progression-free and overall survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. The prediction to TKI therapy was calculated with the response to treatment determined by standard imaging techniques.

RESULTS

Outcomes were assessed according to the CTC positivity at baseline, before the patients started TKI for mRCC. At a mean follow-up of 12.4 ± 4.1 months, disease progression was noted in 17 patients (48.6%) including 8 deaths (22.9%). CTC positive patients had a significantly lower progression-free survival rate (12.5% vs. 64.1%, respectively; P = 0.009) but not in the overall survival rate (75% vs. 76.3%, respectively; P = 0.88) in the Kaplan-Meier estimation curves. CTC positivity at baseline significantly predicted a poorer response to TKI (87.5% vs. 37.1%, P = 0.01). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that CTC at baseline was the most significant predictor of progression-free survival (hazard ratio 4.17, 95% confidence interval 1.41-11.99, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline CTC detection can be an important prognostic factor of progression-free survival and significant predictor of poor response to TKI in patients with metastatic RCC.

Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score as a Predictor of Prognosis in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Nivolumab

BACKGROUND

The modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), which incorporates serum albumin and C-reactive protein levels, reflects systemic inflammation and nutritional status. In this study, we evaluate the role of mGPS as a predictor of prognosis in metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-five consecutive patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving nivolumab therapy after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy between September 2013 and August 2019 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic factors associated with overall survival were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 26.4 months. The median progression-free survival and 1- and 3-year progression-free survival rates were 11.6 months, 48.9%, and 17.1%, respectively. The median overall survival and 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were not reached, 88.7%, and 62.3%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, mGPS at the time of nivolumab administration (P < .0001; hazard ratio [HR], 95.7; P = .0004 [Score 1 vs. 0]; HR, 98.9; P = .0002 [Score 2 vs. 0]; and HR, 1.03; P = .971 [Score 2 vs. 1]) was extracted as the strongest predictor for overall survival followed by duration from diagnosis to treatment (P = .0001), lactate dehydrogenase (P = .0005), and lymphocyte count (P = .021). Overall survival curves were distinctly separated between mGPS Score 0 and mGPS Score 1 + 2, with median overall survival periods being not reached and 32.4 months, respectively (P = .0004).

CONCLUSIONS

mGPS was the strongest significant prognostic biomarker in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab. This simple classification could be useful in clinical practice.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict overall survival for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Background

Heterogeneity of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constraints accurate prognosis prediction of the tumor. We therefore aimed at developing a novel nomogram for accurate prediction of overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic RCC.

Methods

We extracted 2010 to 2016 data for metastatic RCC patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and randomly stratified them equally into training and validation sets. Prognostic factors for OS were analyzed using Cox regression models, and thereafter integrated into a 1, 3 and 5-year OS predictive nomogram. The nomogram was validated using the training and validation sets. The performance of this model was evaluated by the Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), calibration curve, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), category-free net reclassification improvement (NRI), index of prediction accuracy (IPA), and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

Overall, 2315 metastatic RCC patients in the SEER database who fulfilled our inclusion criteria were utilized in constructing a nomogram for predicting OS of newly diagnosed metastatic RCC patients. The nomogram incorporated eight clinical factors: Fuhrman grade, lymph node status, sarcomatoid feature, cancer-directed surgery and bone, brain, liver, and lung metastases, all significantly associated with OS. The model was superior to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system (7th edition) both in training (C-indices, 0.701 vs. 0.612, P < 0.001) and validation sets (C-indices, 0.676 vs. 0.600, P < 0.001). The calibration plots of the nomogram corresponded well between predicted and observed values. NRI, IDI, and IPA further validated the superior predictive capability of the nomogram relative to the AJCC staging system. The DCA plots revealed reliable clinical application of our model in prognosis prediction of metastatic RCC patients.

Conclusions

We developed and validated an accurate nomogram for individual OS prediction of metastatic RCC patients. This nomogram can be applied in design of clinical trials, patient counseling, and rationalizing therapeutic modalities.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer patients with early cytokine intolerance: TURCOS, a Turkish national, prospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

Cytokines have been the mainstay of treatment in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) for decades before the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which dramatically changed the therapeutic landscape in these patients. This observational study was designed to evaluate use of TKIs in the treatment of cytokine-intolerant mRCC patients.

METHODS

A total of 151 cytokine-intolerant mRCC patients who were treated with TKIs (sunitinib, pazopanib and sorafenib) were enrolled in this prospective, non-interventional, multi-center observational study at 16 oncology centers across Turkey. Mean (SD) age was 61.3 (11.1) years and 74.8% were males. Data on duration of TKI treatment was the primary outcome measure. Additionally, overall response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety data were recorded.

RESULTS

Median duration of treatment was 8.2 months at a median follow up of 17.9 months. ORR and disease control rate were 12.5% and 70.8%, respectively. Median PFS and OS were 7.5 months (95%CI: 6.4-10.4) and 27.3 months (95%CI: 17.6-27.3) with no significant difference among three TKI agents in terms of treatment duration, ORR, PFS and OS. The most common adverse events excluding progression-which was the protocol requirement were diarrhea (13.6%), asthenia (13.6%) and hand-foot syndrome (12.6%). Dose modifications were required in 30.5% of the patients and 15% discontinued TKIs because of toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirm the efficacy and safety profile of TKIs in the first-line treatment of mRCC patients intolerant to cytokine treatment. There was no significant difference among three TKI agents in terms of treatment duration, ORR, PFS and OS.Trial registration: TURCOS ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01585974. Registered April 25, 2012.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment is an independent prognostic factor in older patients with metastatic renal cell cancer treated with first-line Sunitinib or Pazopanib: a single center experience

BACKGROUND

There is poor data on the prognostic role of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in older patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with first line Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of mRCC patients older than 70 years treated at our Institute with first-line Sunitinib or Pazopanib for at least 6 months. Every patient received a CGA at baseline and was identified as fit, vulnerable or frail according to Balducci's Criteria. We then assessed the impact of CGA category on survival, disease control and tolerability of TKIs.

RESULTS

We identified 86 eligible patients. Median age: 74.5 years, 56% males; 45.4% were fit, 37.2% vulnerable and 17.4% frail at CGA. There were no significant differences in the rate of Grade (G)1-2 and G3-4 toxicities, dose reduction rates, PFS and OS between Sunitinib and Pazopanib. Fit, vulnerable and frail patients achieved significantly different median PFS (18.9 vs 11.2 vs 5.1 months; p < 0.001) and OS (35.5 vs 14.6 vs 10.9 months; p < 0.001). Patients categorized as fit had higher chance of receiving a second-line treatment (66.6% vs 28.9% in vulnerable/frail; p = 0.002). The incidence of G3/4 events was significantly lower in the fit subgroup (19% vs 45% in vulnerable/frail; p = 0.0025).

CONCLUSIONS

In our retrospective single-center experience, CGA could accurately discriminate patients with higher risk of experiencing G3/4 toxicities, shorter PFS, and lower chance of receiving a second line treatment. CGA strongly impacted on OS, independently from International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) classification.

Development of novel ACN (albumin, C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) prognostication model for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving first-line molecular-targeted therapy

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to develop a novel prognostication model in patients with treatment-naïve metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

METHODS

This study included 325 consecutive mRCC patients receiving first-line molecular-targeted therapy at 4 institutions. Potential parameters associated with overall survival (OS) in these patients were investigated to develop a novel stratification model.

RESULTS

Median OS of the 325 patients was 38 months. A multivariable analysis of several factors identified independent predictors associated with unfavorable OS as follows: no previous nephrectomy, Karnofsky performance status <80%, albumin (Alb) ≤3.5 g/dl, C-reactive protein (CRP) >0.5 mg/dl and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >3. Of these 5 independent OS predictors, 3 numeric factors were used to develop the ACN (Alb, CRP, and NLR) model by dividing patients into 3 groups according to the positive numbers of these 3 numeric risk factors. Median OS durations were 63, 37, and 11 months in the favorable (n = 105, 32.3%, without risk factors), intermediate (n = 88, 27.1%, with a single risk factor), and poor (n = 132, 40.6%, with multiple risk factors) risk groups, respectively. The ACN model as a prognostication tool was shown to be superior to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) models by both the concordance index and decision curve analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The ACN model could stratify the prognostic risk of mRCC patients receiving first-line targeted therapy more accurately than the MSKCC and IMDC models.

Efficacy and safety of apatinib monotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients: A single-arm observational study

BACKGROUND

Antiangiogenic treatments play an important role in the therapeutic strategy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Apatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of apatinib therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients.

METHODS

Between January 2018 and November 2018, we enrolled 53 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients. Apatinib was administered at an initial dose of 500 mg once daily. The disease control rate, objective response rate, progression-free survival, and adverse events were reviewed and evaluated.

FINDINGS

Among the 53 patients, 14 achieved partial response and 31 achieved stable disease. Thus, the disease control rate was 84.9% and the objective response rate was 26.4%. The median progression-free survival was 11.2 months (95% confidence interval: 9.884-12.574). Most of the adverse events (AEs) were at grade 1 or 2, and the main grade 3 AEs were hypertension (5.7%), anemia (3.8%), and thrombocytopenia (3.8%).

INTERPRETATION

Apatinib showed promising efficacy and manageable toxicity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients, giving potent evidence to conduct further clinical trials.

Contemporary Cytoreductive Nephrectomy Provides Survival Benefit in Clear-cell Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

A recent randomized trial questioned the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy in clear-cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma (ccmRCC). We reassessed the effect of cytoreductive nephrectomy on survival in a contemporary population-based ccmRCC cohort.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2010-2015), we focused on patients with ccmRCC. The primary endpoint consisted of overall mortality. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were applied in the overall cohort and in patients who underwent targeted therapy. Sensitivity analyses included 1:1 propensity score matching, 3- and 6-month landmark analyses, incremental survival benefit analyses, and metastases number and location-based stratifications.

RESULTS

Of 4062 patients with ccmRCC, 2241 (55.1%) received targeted therapy; cytoreductive nephrectomy was performed in 2226 (54.8%) patients and 1168 (52.1%) patients in the overall and targeted therapy cohorts, respectively. Cytoreductive nephrectomy was associated with lower overall mortality in the overall cohort (median survival, 30 vs. 9 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.43; P < .001), as well as in the targeted therapy cohort (median survival, 28 vs. 12 months; HR, 0.49; P < .001). In sensitivity analyses, cytoreductive nephrectomy was associated with lower overall mortality after 1:1 propensity score-matching (HR, 0.49; P < .001), in 3- and 6-month landmark analyses (HR, 0.49; P < .001 and HR, 0.51; P < .001, respectively), in metastases number and location-based stratifications, except for exclusive liver metastases, as well as in all incremental benefit analyses.

CONCLUSION

Cytoreductive nephrectomy is associated with better survival in patients with ccmRCC, including those exposed to targeted therapy, after adjustment for multiple potential confounders.

Model-based assessment of pharmacokinetic changes of sunitinib, tacrolimus, and everolimus in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma after renal transplantation

The safety of the coadministration of sunitinib with tacrolimus and everolimus with regard to therapeutic drug monitoring has not been demonstrated. Here, we report a patient who showed high sunitinib concentrations, in addition to pharmacokinetic changes in tacrolimus and everolimus after sunitinib therapy. A living-donor renal transplant patient treated with tacrolimus and everolimus was diagnosed with pulmonary and pleural metastases of renal cell carcinoma. The patient received sunitinib therapy (37.5 mg/day, 2 weeks on and 1 week off). This patient exhibited a high total sunitinib concentration (sunitinib, 105.8 ng/mL; N-desethyl sunitinib, 27.9 ng/mL) on day 10 postinitiation and experienced grade 3 diarrhea. The observed sunitinib concentrations were a little higher than those reported in the 421C>A polymorphism of the ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 gene carrier. The observed concentrations of both tacrolimus and everolimus gradually decreased compared with the Bayesian-predicted values after the onset of sunitinib therapy, and the doses of tacrolimus and everolimus were increased. Careful therapeutic drug monitoring of sunitinib, tacrolimus, and everolimus concentrations is necessary during combination therapy, especially after episodes of diarrhea.

Outcomes of complete metastasectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system experience

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection of metastasis can be integrated in the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) as it can contribute to delay disease progression and improve survival.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the impact of complete metastasectomy in mRCC patients using real-world pan-Canadian data.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) database was used to select patients who were diagnosed with mRCC between January 2011 and April 2019. To minimize selection bias, each patient having received a complete metastasectomy was matched with up to 4 patients not treated with metastasectomy.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of metastasectomy or selection, to death from any cause. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the impact of the metastasectomy while adjusting for potential confounding variables.

RESULTS

A total of 229 patients undergoing complete metastasectomy were matched with 803 patients not treated with metastasectomy. After matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. After 12 months, the proportion of patients that were still alive was 96.0% and 89.8% in the complete metastasectomy and its matched group, respectively; the 5-year OS were 63.2% and 51.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis performed in the matched cohort revealed that patients who underwent complete metastasectomy had a lower risk of mortality compared to patients who did not undergo metastasectomy (hazard ratio: 0.41, 95% confidence interval:0.27-0.63).

CONCLUSION

Our study found that patients who underwent complete metastasectomy have a longer overall survival and a longer time to initiation of targeted therapy compared to patients not receiving metastasectomy. These findings should support aggressive resection of metastasis in selected patients.

Prognostic Stratification of the IMDC Intermediate Risk Group After Treatment With First-line Molecular-targeted Therapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

The therapeutic outcomes of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) have dramatically improved with the introduction of molecular-targeted agents. The observational multicenter study was conducted to develop a novel stratification system for the intermediate risk group of the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) model.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present study included 252 Japanese patients with mRCC who received first-line molecular-targeted therapy at four institutions.

RESULTS

The 252 patients were classified into the favorable, intermediate, and poor risk groups by the IMDC model. For the intermediate risk group, multivariate analysis of the six factors included in the IMDC model revealed that a low performance status, anemia, and a high platelet count were independent predictors of poor overall survival (OS). The intermediate risk group was subsequently divided into the following two groups (int -group 1 and 2) by the three independent OS predictors. Significant differences in the OS were noted among the IMDC favorable risk group, int-group 1, int-group 2, and poor risk group.

CONCLUSION

The novel stratification presented in this study could be a useful tool for further prognostication of patients with mRCC classified into the intermediate risk group according to the IMDC model after first-line molecular-targeted therapy.

The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio has a role in predicting the effectiveness of nivolumab in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a multi-institutional retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a well-known prognostic marker in various cancers. However, its role as a predictive marker for the effectiveness of nivolumab in patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC) remains unclear. We evaluated the relationships between the NLR and progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) in mRCC patients treated with nivolumab.

METHODS

The data of 52 mRCC patients who received nivolumab therapy were collected from seven institutes and evaluated. The median follow-up period from treatment with nivolumab was 25.2 months (IQR 15.5-33.2).

RESULTS

The median duration of nivolumab therapy was 7.1 months (IQR 2.9-24.4). The objective response rate was 25% and the 1- and 2-year PFS rates were 46.2 and 25.2%, respectively. The median NLR values at baseline and 4 weeks were 3.7 (IQR 2.7-5.1) and 3.3 (IQR 2.4-5.7), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, an NLR of ≥3 at 4 weeks was an independent predictor of PFS (P = 0.013) and OS (P = 0.034). The 1-year PFS of patients with an NLR of < 3 at 4 weeks was better than that of those with an NLR of ≥3 (75% versus 29%, P = 0.011). The 1-year OS of patients with an NLR of < 3 at 4 weeks was also better than that of those with an NLR of ≥3 (95% versus 71%, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the baseline NLR was not associated with PFS or OS, an NLR of ≥3 at 4 weeks after the initiation of therapy might be a robust predictor of poor PFS and OS in mRCC patients undergoing sequential treatment with nivolumab.

[Cytoreductive Partial Nephrectomy versus Cytoreductive Radical Nephrectomy for Locally T 1 Stage Metastatic Renal Rell Carcinoma (mRCC)]

Objective

To explore whether cytoreductive partial nephrectomy (cPN) or cytoreductive radical nephrectomy (cRN), is more beneficial for patients with locally T ₁ stage metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Methods

We retrospectively collected the data ofthe patients with locally T ₁ stage mRCC ( n=934) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Logistic regression was conducted to identify the determinants of cPN. Propensity-score match (PSM) was used to diminish the confounder. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses was performed and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the effect of cPN and cRN on overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS).

Results

Among the 934 patients, 142 (15.2%) received cPN and 792 (84.8%) received cRN. Before PSM, both OS and CSS in cPN group were better in Kaplan-Meier analysis (log rank test, each P< 0.01). In a survival analysis of propensity-score matched 141 pairs of patients, cPN was still associated with improved OS and CSS compared with cRN (log rank test, each P< 0.01). After PSM, the 2-year OS were 61.7% and 74.4%, and 5-year OS were 35.6% and 59.2% in the cRN and cPN cohorts respectively. Cox proportional hazards model confirmed cPN the independent risk factor of both OS and CSS.

Conclusion

For mRCC patients with locally T ₁ stage, cPN may gain an OS and CSS benefit compared with cRN.

Discontinuation of first-line molecular-targeted therapy and prognosis in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Impact of disease progression vs. adverse events

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the impact of discontinuation of first-line (1L) molecular-targeted therapy on prognostic outcomes among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

METHODS

Study patients with mRCC were treated with 1L molecular-targeted agents at 4 separate institutions. Prognostic outcomes in this patient cohort were analyzed retrospectively based on whether discontinuation of 1L therapy was related to adverse events (AEs) or progression of disease (PD).

RESULTS

Of the 201 patients enrolled, 117 patients (58%) and 84 patients (42%) discontinued 1L targeted therapy due to PD and AEs, respectively. Second-line therapy was subsequently provided to 101 (86%) and 66 (79%) of the patients who discontinued 1L therapy secondary to PD or AEs, respectively. Patients who discontinued 1L therapy due to AEs were significantly older than those with PD. The progression-free survival and overall survival from the initiation of 1L targeted therapy were significantly longer in patients who discontinued 1L therapy due to AE than in those who discontinued 1L therapy due to PD. The OS from the initiation of second-line targeted therapy was significantly longer in patients who discontinued 1L therapy due to AE than those with PD. Furthermore, AE as a reason for discontinuation of 1L targeted therapy as opposed to PD was independently associated with longer progression-free survival and OS as determined by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that mRCC patients who discontinue 1L therapy due to AEs have a more favorable prognosis than those who discontinue therapy due to PD.

Addition of Primary Metastatic Site on Bone, Brain, and Liver to IMDC Criteria in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Validation Study

BACKGROUND

The International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) criteria have been largely adopted in clinical practice. In a recent retrospective study, we assessed that the addition of the first site of metastatic disease to brain, bone, and liver improves prognostic stratification of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Here, we performed an external validation in patients with mRCC. Our aim was to evaluate if the addition of a new independent variable could improve IMDC prognosis prediction and reduce heterogeneity within risk categories.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We selected all 1073 patients treated at a single institution for mRCC and included in the Institute Gustave Roussy Renal Cell Carcinoma database. All patients included received at least 1 line of targeted therapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Univariate and multivariate analyses (Cox regression model) were performed. Bootstrap validation of the final model was also carried out for internal validation. The IMDC modified classification was defined by the addition of the seventh variable, and we defined the modified IMDC good-risk criteria as 0 risks, intermediate-risk as 1 to 2 risks, and poor-risk as 3 or more risks.

RESULTS

The presence of brain, bone, and/or liver as the first site of metastatic disease plus the other variables included in the IMDC score were statistically significant variables associated with overall survival (OS) after univariate and multivariate analysis and bootstrap validation. Finally, 122 (15%) patients had a modification of their initial risk category. The median OS in the poor-, intermediate-, and favorable-risk groups was 10, 26, and 52 months, respectively (P < .001). The bias-corrected concordance index in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (n = 241) was 0.71.

CONCLUSION

The addition of brain, bone, and/or liver metastases as an additional variable to the other IMDC variables improves the prognostic predictive power of the model.

The impact of cytoreductive nephrectomy on survival outcomes in patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors for metastatic renal cell carcinoma in a real-world cohort

BACKGROUND

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy (TKI) has changed the treatment paradigm of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The recent CARMENA and SURTIME trials challenged the role of the cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of CN prior to TKI therapy in patients with mRCC in a real-world setting.

METHODS

Overall, 262 consecutive patients with mRCC were treated with CN plus TKI or TKI only at our institution between 2000 and 2016. Patients with prior immunotherapy or metastasectomy were excluded. Multiple imputation and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were performed to account for missing values and imbalances between the treatment groups, respectively. Unadjusted and adjusted Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to determine differences in progression-free (PFS), overall (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

RESULTS

Overall, 104 (40%) patients received CN before TKI treatment. Most frequent first line therapy was Sunitinib (66%), followed by Sorafenib (20%) and Pazopanib (10%). After adjustment with IPTW, there was no difference in PFS, CSS, and OS (all P > 0.05) between the treatment groups. In subgroup analyses, CSS was improved when CN was performed in patients with sarcomatoid features and clear cell histology (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03) and PFS was improved in patients with clear cell histology when CN was performed [0.04]). CN did not improve OS in any subgroup analysis.

CONCLUSION

The role of CN remains controversial. We found no difference in survival outcomes between patients treated with and without CN before TKI therapy. However, CN was associated with improved survival in specific patient subgroups. Tailored, individualized treatment is key to further improve oncological outcomes for mRCC.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Patients with Locally Advanced and/or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Despite advances in systemic therapy and immunotherapy, surgery continues to have a role in management of advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is considered standard of care for smaller, localized tumors due to faster recovery without compromising oncologic outcomes. There are concerns about MIS for aRCC due to a potential risk of inferior oncologic outcomes and unusual patterns of disease recurrence. Recent studies, however, suggest that in properly selected patients with aRCC, MIS can provide improved peri-operative outcomes without compromising oncologic control.

Epidemiology, Risk Assessment, and Biomarkers for Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

In the preceding two decades, several milestones have been reached in the management of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), including the development of novel targeted agents paralleling an increased understanding of the molecular biology of this disease process. Recently, a renewed enthusiasm for immunotherapy in the form of immune checkpoint blockade has resulted in significant strides in the treatment of mRCC. Despite these advances, treatment remains challenging for clinicians, and only modest survival benefits are observed with current treatment paradigms. The risk-stratification tools and investigated predictive and prognostic biomarkers in patients with mRCC are detailed in this review.

The Evolving Role of Metastasectomy for Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Surgical metastasectomy continues to be utilized for patients with solitary or low-volume metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Although few high-quality data are available to evaluate outcomes, local treatment is recommended when feasible because it may allow a subset of patients to delay or avoid systemic treatments. With the development of improved mRCC therapies, utilization of metastasectomy has increased because most patients have incomplete responses to systemic treatment of their metastases. This review discusses the rationale and history of metastasectomy, trends in utilization, prognostic factors for patient selection, site-specific considerations, alternatives for nonsurgical local treatment, and risk of morbidity associated with metastasectomy.

Survival After Surgery for Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastatic to the Spine: Impact of Modern Systemic Therapies on Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Modern medical management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) includes therapies targeting tyrosine kinases, growth pathways (mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)), and immune checkpoints.

OBJECTIVE

To test our hypothesis that patients with spinal metastases would benefit from postoperative systemic therapy despite presenting with disease that, in many cases, was resistant to prior systemic therapy.

METHODS

This is an Institutional Review Board-approved clinical retrospective cohort analysis. A sample of adult patients with RCC metastatic to the spine who underwent operative intervention between January 2010 and December 2017 at 2 large academic medical centers was used in this study.

RESULTS

We identified 78 patients with metastatic RCC in whom instrumented stabilization was performed in 79% and postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery was performed in 41% of patients. Of patients presenting with weakness or myelopathy, 93% noted postoperative improvement and 78% reported improvement in radicular and axial paraspinal pain severity. Increased overall survival (OS) (913 d (95% CI: 633-1975 d, n = 49) vs 222 d (95% CI: 143-1005 d, n = 29), P = .003) following surgery was noted in patients who received postoperative systemic therapy a median of 80 d (interquartile range 48-227 d) following the surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative outcomes and palliation of symptoms for metastatic RCC without targeted therapies in this cohort are similar to those reported in earlier series prior to the adoption of these systemic therapies. We observed a significantly longer OS among patients who received modern systemic therapies postoperatively. These findings have implications for the preoperative evaluation of patients with systemic disease who may have been deemed poor surgical candidates prior to the availability of these systemic therapies.

A multicenter retrospective study of nivolumab monotherapy in previously treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: interim analysis of Japanese real-world data

Background

In a phase III clinical trial, CheckMate 025, treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) with nivolumab demonstrated superior efficacy over everolimus. However, as the clinical trial excluded patients with specific complications and poor performance status (PS), the effectiveness and safety of nivolumab in clinical practice, in which patients with various clinical complications are treated, is unclear. This study explored real-world nivolumab treatment in Japanese mRCC patients.

Methods

This is an interim analysis of a multicenter, non-interventional, medical record review study (minimum follow-up: 9 months). All eligible Japanese mRCC patients who first received nivolumab between February and October 2017 were included; data cut-off was April 2019. We analyzed nivolumab treatment patterns, efficacy (including overall survival, progression-free survival, objective response rate, and duration of response) and safety (including immune-related adverse events).

Results

Of 208 evaluable patients, 31.7% received nivolumab as fourth- or later line of treatment. At data cut-off, 26.9% of patients were continuing nivolumab treatment. The major reason for discontinuation was disease progression (n = 100, 65.8%). Median overall survival was not reached; the 12-month survival rate was 75.6%. Median progression-free survival was 7.1 months, the objective response rate was 22.6%, and median duration of response was 13.3 months. Patients who were excluded or limited in number in CheckMate 025, such as those with non-clear cell RCC or poor PS, also received benefits from nivolumab treatment. Immune-related adverse events occurred in 27.4% of patients (grade ≥ 3, 10.1%).

Conclusion

Nivolumab was effective and well-tolerated in real-world Japanese mRCC patients.

Trial registration

UMIN000033312

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10147-020-01692-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Clinical outcomes of second-line treatment following prior targeted therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a comparison of axitinib and nivolumab

BACKGROUND

Sequential treatment starting with target therapy is still the standard care for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), even in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Our objective was to compare the clinical outcomes between axitinib and nivolumab as second-line therapy following prior targeted therapy in mRCC patients.

METHODS

We identified 41 patients treated with axitinib and 39 patients treated with nivolumab as a second-line regimen after targeted therapy, and retrospectively compared the treatment efficacy and safety in these patients.

RESULTS

The clinical benefit rate of axitinib was significantly higher than that of nivolumab (82.9% versus 56.4%; p = 0.014) and patients who received axitinib tended to show longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those who received nivolumab (10.3 months versus 7.3 months; p = 0.067). There was no difference in the overall survival (OS) of the two groups (both not reached; p = 0.581). The incidence of grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs) was similar between the two groups, but one patient in the nivolumab group died due to an immune-related AE. In addition, a Cox proportional hazards model showed that the pre-treatment KPS, the baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and an objective response in second-line therapy were significantly associated with PFS, while the pre-treatment KPS, the number of metastatic organs, and an objective response in second-line therapy significantly contributed to the predicted OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the prognosis did not differ markedly between the two groups, axitinib resulted in a better tumor response rate. Further randomized prospective studies are needed for the ideal order of this sequential treatment.