Renal cell carcinoma. Natural history and results of treatment

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Kidney Cancer: Ready for Prime Time?

The standard treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is surgery. However, a number of patients will not be candidates for surgical treatment or will reject this therapeutic approach. Therefore, alternative approaches are required. Historically, radiotherapy has been considered an ineffective treatment for RCC due to the radioresistance of renal tumour cells to conventional fractionation and the increased rate of toxicity. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a radiotherapy technique that provides a non-invasive ablative treatment with remarkable rates of local control in both primary tumours and metastases in several locations, with a low associated morbidity due to the highly conformal dose and the use of image-guided techniques. Current evidence shows that a higher dose per fraction, achieving a higher biological effective dose, can overcome the radioresistance of RCC cells. Therefore, SBRT, as well as the combination of SBRT and new emerging immune therapies, has a potential role in the local treatment of primary RCC and oligometastatic RCC patients.

Adjuvant Radiation Therapy After Radical Nephrectomy in Patients with Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Adjuvant radiation therapy has been recommended for patients at higher risk of relapse from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to improve disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) after radical nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the benefit of adjuvant radiation therapy.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review of electronic databases identified publications exploring the association between adjuvant radiation therapy and locoregional recurrence (LRR), DFS, and OS among patients after radical nephrectomy for early-stage RCC. Hazard ratios for DFS were weighted and pooled using the generic inverse variance and random effects model. Odds ratios for LRR, DFS, and OS at 5yr were weighted and pooled in a meta-analysis using Mantel-Haenszel random-effects modeling.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Twelve studies comprising 1624 patients were included in the analysis. Ten studies were retrospective and two were randomized controlled trials. Adjuvant radiation therapy was delivered to 37% of patients. The median follow-up was 49mo. Adjuvant radiation therapy was not associated with better DFS or OS at 5yr, but was associated with less LRR.

CONCLUSIONS

With the caveat that confounding by indication may result from pooling data from predominantly nonrandomized studies, adjuvant radiation after radical nephrectomy was not associated with improved DFS or OS but was associated with less LRR.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Radiation therapy after resection of renal cell carcinoma with a high risk of relapse may reduce the risk of local recurrence but not the risk of disease recurrence or death after 5yr.

Solitary Pancreatic Metastasis Occurring 20 Years after Nephrectomy for Carcinoma of the Kidney

This report describes a case observed in December 1983: a woman who underwent right nephrectomy in 1963 for kidney carcinoma, developed a solitary metastasis to the pancreas, and was operated on again. She is disease free more than one year after.

Postoperative Irradiation in Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma: The Rambam Medical Center Experience

Objective

This study evaluated the results of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Patients

Eighty-six patients (median age, 60 years) with RCC treated by radical nephrectomy were evaluated for the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy. Twenty-four percent of patients had stage T2, 35% T3a, 36% T3b and 5% T4 disease. Seventy-seven percent had clear cell carcinomas and 23% granular cell or spindle and mixed cell carcinomas. Radiotherapy was given to the renal bed and adjacent lymphatic basin at a median dose of 46 Gy.

Results

Thirty-two (37%) patients relapsed: 27 (84%) had systemic relapse only and five (16%) had local and systemic relapse; all patients of the latter group had stage T3b disease. The 10-year disease-free and overall survival was 40% and 42%, respectively. Tumor invasion of the renal vessels and stage of disease were correlated with survival. Side effects of radiotherapy were mainly gastrointestinal, but one patient who received right abdominal irradiation died because of liver failure.

Conclusion

The results of our study are comparable with those reported in the literature. Since postoperative irradiation did not improve the survival of patients with RCC and showed toxicity, it is not recommended.

The Value of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Institution Experience

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of postoperative irradiation in renal cell carcinoma.

Patients and methods

Forty patients with localized renal cell carcinoma admitted to our hospital between 1986 and 1999 were evaluated. All patients were initially treated with radical nephrectomy. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 26 of 40 patients (65%). Fourteen patients (35%) received no adjuvant therapy. Median age was 55 years (range, 20–70 years). Twenty-four patients (60%) were men and 16 patients (40%) were women. Histopathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in all of the patients. N+ disease was present in 3 patients (7%). Stage I and II disease was present in 25 patients (63%) and stage III and IV disease in 15 patients (37%). Two patients (5%) had T1a disease, 11 patients (27%) had T1b, 15 patients (38%) had T2, 11 patients (27%) had T3a and 1 (3%) patient had T3b. In the radiotherapy group, renal bed and regional lymphatic fields were irradiated with daily fractions of 180–200 cGy/fraction to a total dose of 46–50 Gy, using parallel opposing fields.

Results

The 5-year overall survival rates were 70% in the postoperative radiotherapy group and 20% in the no adjuvant treatment group, showing no significant difference (P = 0.1). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 66% in the radiotherapy group and 16% in the no treatment group, with a significant difference in both univariate and multivariate analyses (P = 0.045 and P = 0.0007, respectively). Stage III and IV disease, tumor size ≥7 cm, presence of distant metastasis and lactate dehydrogenase level >450 U/L were found to be adverse prognostic factors for overall survival in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Analyzing the factors affecting disease-free survival, absence of postoperative radiotherapy and tumor size ≥7 cm were found to be adverse prognostic factors in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Conclusion

Multi-institutional prospective randomized trials using modern radiotherapy techniques such as conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy are necessary to evaluate the real role of radiotherapy and its effect on survival in renal cell carcinoma, especially in selected patients with a high risk of local or regional failure.

Risk factors for locoregional relapse after radical nephrectomy

AIM

To identify risk factors for locoregional relapse after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 259 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy for sporadic clinically localized unilateral renal cell carcinoma between 1998 and 2012. Relapse patterns (locoregional and/or distant) were identified. Relapse-free survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. Factors associated with decreased relapse-free survival were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis. Locoregional relapse estimates were calculated for individual factors and combination of factors.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 68 months (interquartile range: 75 months), 24% patients relapsed. Of these, 54% had locoregional relapse. High-grade, positive margin, large tumor size and stage III/IV were associated with worse relapse-free survival on multivariate analysis. Locoregional relapse occurred among patients with tumor size >7-</ = 10 cm (22%), >10 cm (35%), stage III/IV (31%), grade III/IV (26%), renal vein invasion (22%), perinephric fat invasion (30%), </ = 7 cm plus grade III/IV (15%), >7 cm plus grade I/II (21%), >7 cm plus grade III/IV (48%), stage III/IV plus grade I/II (24%) and stage III/IV plus grade III/IV (45%).

CONCLUSION

We were able to discern risk factors (individual or in combination) associated with increased risk of locoregional relapse after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. This could help distinguish patients who may benefit from adjuvant locoregionally directed therapy.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma: radiologic findings and assessment of response to targeted antiangiogenic therapy by using multidetector CT

Recent advances in treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), such as new molecular therapies that use novel antiangiogenic agents, have led to revision of the most frequently used guideline to evaluate tumor response to therapy: Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1). Assessment of the response of metastatic RCC to therapy has traditionally been based on changes in target lesion size. However, the mechanism of action of newer antiangiogenic therapies is more cytostatic than cytotoxic, which leads to disease stabilization rather than to tumor regression. This change in tumor response makes RECIST 1.1--a system whose criteria are based exclusively on tumor size--inadequate to discriminate patients with early tumor progression from those with more progression-free disease and prolonged survival. New criteria such as changes in attenuation, morphology, and structure, as seen at contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (CT), are being incorporated into new classifications used to assess response of metastatic RCC to antiangiogenic therapies. The new classifications provide better assessments of tumor response to the new therapies, but they have some limitations. The authors provide a practical review of these systems--the Choi, modified Choi, and Morphology, Attenuation, Size, and Structure (MASS) criteria--by explaining their differences and limitations that may influence the feasibility and reproducibility of these classifications. The authors review the use of multidetector CT in the detection of metastatic RCC and the different appearances and locations of these lesions. They also provide an overview of the new antiangiogenic therapies and their mechanisms of action and a brief introduction to functional imaging techniques. Functional imaging techniques, especially dynamic contrast-enhanced CT, seem promising for assessing response of metastatic RCC to treatment. Nonetheless, further studies are needed before functional imaging can be used in routine clinical practice.

Node-positive renal cell carcinoma in the absence of distant metastases: predictors of cancer-specific mortality in a population-based cohort

Nodal metastases, even in the absence of distant metastases, portend a bad prognosis. The percentage of positive nodes (PPN) represents an important predictor of cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in patients in the group T(any) N(1) M(0) . In consequence, universal inclusion of PPN should be considered in prospective and retrospective CSM analyses.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the outcomes of patients with node-positive renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the absence of distant metastases in a large population-based cohort of patients To examine the ability of standard risk factors to predict cancer-specific mortality (CSM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, a total of 799 patients with RCC nodal metastases and absence of distant metastases undergoing nephrectomy were identified. Univariable and multivariable analyses was performed with the aim of identifying independent predictors of CSM in this cohort of patients. Specifically, we examined the effect of the number of removed nodes (NRN), the number of positive nodes (NPN) and the percentage of positive nodes (PPN) on CSM.

RESULTS

Actuarial survival estimates showed that 53.2, 37.8 and 25.7% of patients survived at 24, 60 and 120 months after nephrectomy. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, NRN failed to clearly discriminate between recorded CSM rates (log rank P = 0.07). Discrimination was noted when CSM was stratified according to NPN (log rank P = 0.02) and PPN (log rank P = 0.001). In multivariable analyses, age, Fuhrman grade, histological subtype, T stage and PPN were independent predictors of CSM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that CSM of patients with exclusive nodal metastases differs according to PPN. Consequently, PPN warrants consideration in future prognostic schemes.

Need for a new trial to evaluate postoperative radiotherapy in renal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and locoregional failure (LRF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Medline, CANCERLIT, Cochrane library database and search engines were searched to identify randomized controlled studies comparing radical nephrectomy alone with radical nephrectomy followed by PORT for localized RCC. Further, radiotherapy techniques and associated side-effects were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seven controlled trials with a total patient population of 735 were identified. Pooled results from these trials showed a significant reduction of LRF in patients treated with PORT (P < or = 0.0001). However, there was no difference in OS (P = 0.29) and DFS (P = 0.14). The majority of patients was treated with larger field sizes with parallel-opposed anteroposterior fields. PORT was generally well tolerated; in total, six PORT-related deaths were seen. The resultant funnel plot was broader (Egger test P = 0.14) due to low number of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

PORT significantly reduces LRF but has no effect on OS and DFS. However, due to poor patient accrual and older radiotherapy techniques in previous studies, there is a need for a new trial to evaluate PORT using conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy techniques.

Radiation therapy in urinary cancer: state of the art and perspective

Invasive urinary tumours are relatively rare, and their treatment may cause important changes in urinary, sexual and social functions. A systematic review of external radiation therapy studies in urinary cancers was performed. This synthesis of the literature is based on data from meta-analyses, randomised and prospective trials and retrospective studies. There are few controlled clinical trials using adjuvant or radical radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in cancer of the kidney, ureter and urethra. There are several reports on multimodality treatment in invasive bladder cancer: intravesical surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy to radiotherapy or concomitant radiochemotherapy with organ preservation. The conclusions reached for renal cancer are controversial, and data on cancers of the urethra and ureter are few and inconclusive. Sufficient data now exist in the literature to demonstrate that conservative management with organ preservation is a valuable alternative to radical cystectomy, the traditional gold standard, in invasive bladder cancer.

Patients with renal cell carcinoma nodal metastases can be accurately identified: external validation of a new nomogram

Outcome of patients with renal cell carcinoma nodal metastases (NM) is substantially worse than that of patients with localized disease. This justifies more thorough staging and possibly more aggressive treatment in those at risk of or with established NM. We developed and externally validated a nomogram capable of highly accurately predicting renal cell carcinoma NM in patients without radiographic evidence of distant metastases. Age, symptom classification, tumour size and the pathological nodal stage were available for 4,658 individuals. The data of 2,522 (54.1%) individuals from 7 centers were used to develop a multivariable logistic regression model-based nomogram predicting the individual probability of NM. The remaining data from 2,136 (45.9%) patients from 5 institutions were used for external validation. In the development cohort, 107/2,522 (4.2%) had lymph node metastases vs. 100/2,136 (4.7%) in the external validation cohort. Symptom classification and tumour size were independent predictors of NM in the development cohort. Age failed to reach independent predictor status, but added to discriminant properties of the model. A nomogram based on age, symptom classification and tumour size was 78.4% accurate in predicting the individual probability of NM in the external validation cohort. Our nomogram can contribute to the identification of patients at low risk of NM. This tool can help to risk adjust the need and the extent of nodal staging in patients without known distant metastases. More thorough staging can hopefully better select those in whom adjuvant treatment is necessary. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Renal cell carcinoma with nodal metastases in the absence of distant metastatic disease: prognostic indicators of disease-specific survival

OBJECTIVES

Outcome of patients with exclusive renal cell carcinoma (RCC) nodal metastases without distant metastases is not extensively described. We explored the ability of standard risk factors such as tumour size, Fuhrman grade, histologic subtype and symptom classification to predict renal cell carcinoma-specific survival (RCC-SS).

METHODS

Analyses targeted 171 patients with RCC nodal metastases and absence of distant metastases. Univariable, multivariable, and predictive accuracy analyses addressed RCC-SS with the intent of identifying independent and most informative predictors of RCC-SS in this cohort of patients.

RESULTS

Median RCC-SS was 2.3 yr. Symptom classification (61.3%, p<0.001) demonstrated the highest univariable accuracy. In multivariable analyses, symptom classification contributed the most to the combined predictive accuracy of all variables (+4.2%, p<0.001), followed by Fuhrman grade (+2.3%) and histologic subtype (+1.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Renal cell carcinoma-specific survival of patients with exclusive nodal metastases may show important variability. In presence of systemic symptoms, survival is extremely poor. Substantially better survival may be expected in patients with local or no symptoms. This observation has important implications when adjuvant therapies are considered.

Management of renal cell carcinoma with solitary metastasis

Background

Distant metastasis are common in Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) nearly one forth of the patients have metastasis at presentation while another 50% develop metastasis during the follow-up. A small percentage of these are solitary metastasis. We describe survival after surgical excision or radiotherapy of solitary metastatic lesion from renal cell carcinoma

Patients and methods

Between 1988–2001, 43 patients with solitary metastasis to different sites from renal cell carcinoma underwent either surgical excision or radiotherapy were analyzed. The solitary nature of the lesions was confirmed by investigations. All patients have had radical nephrectomy for the primary lesion. Survival analysis was carried out by Kaplan Meier Method.

Results

All solitary metastatic lesions were treated with intent of cure either by excision or radiotherapy. Of these, 13 patients had solitary metastasis at the time of presentation in whom 3-year overall median survival was 26 months. The survival of those who developed solitary metastases during follow-up after nephrectomy for primary was 45 months. The patients with long interval between diagnosis and development of metastasis, early stage and low grade of the primary tumor had better prognosis.

Conclusion

Complete resection of either synchronous or metachronous solitary metastases from renal cell carcinoma is justified and can contribute to a long-term survival in this select group of patients.

Rezidivtumor beim Nierenkarzinom

Locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is 0-10% after nephron-sparing surgery, 2.5-4% after thermoablative interventions and 2-3% after (radical) nephrectomy. Risk-factors are: sporadic or hereditary origin, tumor size, multifocality, histologic phenotype and incomplete resection. To date, there are no significant differences in the incidence of locally recurrent tumors independently of whether open or laparoscopic techniques were preferred. Caution still has to be taken with the use of alternative tools for minimally invasive tumor ablation.Finally, no statistically proven standard therapy exists that would clearly provide a superior outcome for patients with an isolated local recurrence. However, meta-analyses strongly support the performance of a resection of the recurrence as the primary working principal.

Renal cell carcinoma with retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Impact on survival and benefits of immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

The current study was performed to determine the impact of the presence of retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy on the survival and response to immunotherapy of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed with outcome assessment based on the chart review of demographic, clinical, and pathologic data from 1087 patients. Patients with RCC who did not present with metastatic disease, who did not undergo nephrectomy as part of their cancer treatment, and those in whom either the lymph node (N) or metastatic (M) status was unknown, were excluded. A total of 322 M1 patients who met these criteria and who underwent nephrectomy for unilateral RCC formed the principal study population.

RESULTS

Two hundred thirty-six patients presented with N0M1 disease and 86 patients presented with N+M1 disease. In M1 patients, the presence of positive regional lymph nodes was associated with larger sized, higher grade, locally advanced primary tumors that were more commonly associated with sarcomatoid features. N0M1 patients were more likely to achieve an objective response to systemic immunotherapy compared with N+M1 patients (P = 0.01). N+M1 patients overall had worse short-term and long-term survival compared with N0M1 patients, with a median survival of 10.5 months compared with 20.4 months, respectively. The median survival of N0M1 patients was improved to 28 months in those who received adjunctive immunotherapy (P = 0.0008), whereas the median survival of patients with N+M1 disease was the same in those treated with and those treated without adjunctive immunotherapy (P = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Even in the modern era of systemic immunotherapy, the presence of regional lymphadenopathy exerts a detrimental effect on the survival of patients with metastatic RCC. Lymph node status is a strong predictor of the failure to achieve either an objective immunotherapy response or an improvement in survival when immunotherapy is given as an adjunctive treatment after cytoreductive nephrectomy. However, in multivariate analysis, including both clinical and pathologic variables, lymph node status was found to have less of an impact on survival than primary tumor stage and grade and patient performance status.

Renal cell carcinoma with retroperitoneal lymph nodes: role of lymph node dissection

PURPOSE

We better defined the benefits and morbidity of lymph node dissection in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma using the experience of patients treated at our institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed with outcome assessment based on the chart review of demographic, clinical and pathological data in 1,087 patients with renal cell carcinoma treated at our institution. Patients with renal cell carcinoma who did not undergo nephrectomy as part of cancer treatment, those with bilateral disease and those for whom nodal status was unknown were not included in this study. A total of 900 patients meeting these criteria who underwent nephrectomy for unilateral renal cell carcinoma at our medical center form the principal study population.

RESULTS

Positive lymph nodes were associated with larger, higher grade, locally advanced primary tumors that were more commonly associated with sarcomatoid features. Positive nodes were 3 to 4 times more common in patients with metastatic disease and the majority of these patients could be identified preoperatively. The survival of patients with regional lymph node involvement only was identical to that of patients with distant metastatic disease only. Patients with regional nodes and distant metastases had significantly inferior survival to those with either condition alone. In node negative cases lymph node dissection can be performed with no additional morbidity but it confers no survival advantage. In node positive cases lymph node dissection can also be performed safely but it is associated with improved survival and a trend toward an improved response to immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Regional lymph node dissection is unnecessary in patients with clinically negative lymph nodes since it offers extremely limited staging information and no benefit in terms of decreasing disease recurrence or improving survival. In patients with positive lymph nodes lymph node dissection is associated with improved survival when it is performed in carefully selected patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy and postoperative immunotherapy. When lymph nodes are present, they should be resected when technically feasible.

Isolated local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma after radical nephrectomy: experience with 10 cases

OBJECTIVES

Isolated local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma after radical nephrectomy is very uncommon and the effect of aggressive surgical management of this clinical entity remains controversial. We report our experience with 10 such cases.

METHODS

Between 1994 and 2002, 10 patients with isolated local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma without any evidence of metastatic disease after radical nephrectomy were treated at our department. The mean patient age was 51.7 years (range 26 to 74); 7 patients were men and 3 were women. All patients underwent extensive surgery for local recurrence.

RESULTS

Only 3 patients were symptomatic, and the others were diagnosed during routine follow-up examinations. The mean time to local recurrence was 33.6 months (range 3 to 68), and the mean size of the recurrent tumor was 8.45 cm (range 3 to 12). An aggressive surgical approach was taken in all patients. One patient died in the postoperative period because of a surgical complication. Of the remaining 9 patients, 2 died of metastatic disease after a mean survival of 8.5 months (range 3 to 14). Seven patients were alive with a mean survival of 16.6 months (range 3 to 38+).

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that patients with isolated local recurrence after radical nephrectomy may benefit from an aggressive surgical approach, but this kind of surgery may also have significant complications.

Should there be a size limit for elective nephron-sparing surgery?

Nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) is a mandatory procedure for patients with solid renal masses who also have coexisting urologic or medical conditions that pose a threat to overall renal function. The excellent results observed with this procedure have led patients with normal contralateral kidneys to choose elective NSS as a treatment modality. However, the optimal selection criteria for NSS have not yet been defined. We review the developments in and recent results of NSS and discuss features critical in selecting patients for this procedure on an elective basis. Current data clearly support the use of elective NSS for localized solid renal masses under 4 cm in size.

[Bilateral synchronous renal cell carcinoma. Report of a case]

The radical nephrectomy is considered to be the optional treatment for renal carcinoma. In the last years, the good results with partial resection shows conservadora surgery the most suitable treatment for well-localized bilateral renal tumours. In this cases dialysis is avoided, and the subsequent risk of immunological deficit and the higher possibility of metastasic illness are minimized. Nowadays, however, there seems to be some controversy over conservative surgery, concerning applications and technique of surgery to practice (partial resection vs. enucleation). We have a case of bilateral synchronic renal cell carcinoma where radical surgery on the left kidney was put into practice, as it presented a great tumour with multiples points corticals confirmed by PAAF and conservative surgery on the right kidney with enucleation of localized mass in the lower renal. The patient held normal renal function with a good quality of life for five years, finding out then, in one of the radiological tests, carcinoma relapse in the only kidney, that forced to radical surgery and to his inclusion in dialysis programme.

The changing natural history of renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

Our understanding of the natural history of renal cell carcinoma, the role of nephrectomy, the benefits of immunotherapy and the possibilities of new technologies are evolving and being integrated with advances in classification and staging. We reviewed the relevant literature to clarify these pertinent questions and provide a current review of the changes in the epidemiology, treatment and prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We comprehensively reviewed the peer reviewed literature on the current management of and results of treatment for renal cell carcinoma.

RESULTS

The incidence of and mortality from renal cell carcinoma have continuously increased during the last 50 years. Despite this increase in the number of new patients and consequently the number of deaths yearly the percent of those surviving for 5 years has notably improved. Factors related to improved survival include advances in renal imaging, earlier diagnosis, improved staging, better understanding of prognostic indicators, refinement in surgical technique and the introduction of immunotherapy approaches for advanced disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently patients with localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma have had improvements in outlook and the therapeutic options available have expanded.

The changing natural history of renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

Our understanding of the natural history of renal cell carcinoma, the role of nephrectomy, the benefits of immunotherapy and the possibilities of new technologies are evolving and being integrated with advances in classification and staging. We reviewed the relevant literature to clarify these pertinent questions and provide a current review of the changes in the epidemiology, treatment and prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We comprehensively reviewed the peer reviewed literature on the current management of and results of treatment for renal cell carcinoma.

RESULTS

The incidence of and mortality from renal cell carcinoma have continuously increased during the last 50 years. Despite this increase in the number of new patients and consequently the number of deaths yearly the percent of those surviving for 5 years has notably improved. Factors related to improved survival include advances in renal imaging, earlier diagnosis, improved staging, better understanding of prognostic indicators, refinement in surgical technique and the introduction of immunotherapy approaches for advanced disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently patients with localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma have had improvements in outlook and the therapeutic options available have expanded.

[Frontal ethmoid metastases of prostatic carcinoma. Report of one case and review of the literature]

Prostatic metastases in the nose and paranasal sinuses are rare. Less than 100 cases have been reported in the literature. Kidney are the commonest site of primary tumour, followed by lung and breast. Only 10 cases have previously been reported in the world literature. Prostatic metastases have been mainly reported in the sphenoid sinus. This paper reports one case of metastases of prostatic carcinoma in the fronto-ethmoid sinus in a 72 years old male. The clinical picture includes acute fronto-ethmoid right sinusitis, severe exophthalmos and chemosis. The CT scan showed extensive soft tissue filling the maxillary, ethmoid cells, sphenoid and frontal right sinuses, with subdural abscess. Biopsies from the fronto-ethmoid mass showed infiltration by adenocarcinoma with positive immunostaining for prostatic specific antigen. We also review the literature about metastases involving the nose and paranasal sinuses.

Metastatic renal cell cancer after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: long-term follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To assess the risk of metastatic disease in longer-term follow-up of patients undergoing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with morcellation for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We present the findings at follow-up at 13.5 to 70 months (mean 33.4 months) of 57 previously reported patients. Three, all of whom initially had clinical stage N0M0 disease, were found to have metastases. One, who had a clinical stage T3 grade III/IV tumor, developed an asymptomatic recurrence in the renal fossa with associated chest metastasis 14 months postoperatively. The second, who had a clinical stage T2 grade II/IV tumor, developed painful bony lesions and a chest metastasis 20 months postoperatively. The third patient, with a clinical stage T3 grade IV/IV tumor, was found to have a solitary port-side abdominal-wall recurrence with no other evidence of metastatic disease at 25 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer-term follow-up has demonstrated a 5% (3/57) rate of metastases after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. In two of these patients, the course was consistent with the natural history of RCC; however, the third had a port-site recurrence. Thus, it behooves us to be meticulous with our technique and to follow patients closely after laparoscopic nephrectomy. Several suggestions are made to reduce the likelihood of port-site recurrence.

[Standards, options, and recommendations for radiotherapy of kidney cancer]

CONTEXT

The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR), initiated in 1993, is a collaborative project between the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centres and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcome for cancer patients. The methodology is based on literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary expert group, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery.

OBJECTIVES

To develop clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with renal cancer. This review is part of previously published complete guidelines and focuses on the place of radiotherapy in this disease.

METHODS

The data was identified by literature search using Medline (up to June 1999) and personal reference lists. The main endpoints considered were survival, risk factors for late effects of radiotherapy, safety and quality of life.

RESULTS

The key recommendations are: 1) In localised renal cancer, adjuvant radiotherapy has a limited role: it is not indicated for T1 and T2 tumours and there is no proof of a survival benefit for T3 N1-N2 tumours. Postoperative radiotherapy can be considered in young patients without risk factors for the development of post-radiotherapy complications and without loco-regional invasion (renal capsule, renal pelvis, vena cava, regional lymph nodes); 2) For metastatic tumours, the multidisciplinary team must decide whether palliative radiotherapy is appropriate after consideration of the prognostic factors. An isolated metastasis can be treated by radiosurgery and stereotaxic radiosurgery may be of benefit in the case of one or two cerebral metastasis. The optimal dose for palliative treatment is not known. Radiotherapy followed by immunotherapy can also be considered if the patient has no contraindication to such treatments.

Prognostic significance of tumor grade for renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The natural history and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma cannot be predicted. Based on the Japanese classification system, the value of nuclear grade were assessed as a possible prognostic factor for renal cell carcinomas.

METHODS

In this retrospective study of 116 patients with renal cell carcinoma, radical nephrectomy was performed. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate analysis was performed using Cox's proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

Distribution by stage and grade in the population of renal cell carcinomas was as follows: pT1 in 13 cases (11.3%), pT2 in 65 cases (56.5%), pT3 in 36 cases (31.3%) and pT4 in one case (0.9%) and grade 1, 28 (24.1%), grade 2, 69 (59.5%) and grade 3, 16 (13.8%). Three cases could not be determined because of pre-operative embolization of the renal cell carcinomas. Nuclear grade was correlated with stage (P=0.0002), the presence of perirenal fat involvement (P=0.003) and metastases (P=0.007). A significant difference in survival was found between grades 1 and 3 (P=0.0001) and grades 2 and 3 (P=0.0001), respectively. Survival was significantly correlated with sex (P=0.0125), tumor size (P=0.0001), the presence of lymph node metastasis (P=0.0001), renal vein involvement (P=0.0001), perirenal fat involvement (P=0.002) or distant metastasis (P=0.0001). The multivariate analysis showed that the occurrence of tumor grade (P=0.0006) or distant metastasis were independent prognostic values.

CONCLUSION

The observations lead us to conclude that the nuclear grade according to the Japanese classification system appears to be of reliable prognostic value for renal cell carcinomas.

Renal adenocarcinoma with tumour thrombi in the inferior vena cava and right atrium in a pedestrian motor vehicle accident fatality: case report and medicolegal implications

Dramatic and unexpected natural disease processes may occasionally be encountered in the course of routine forensic pathology practice. The pathophysiological consequences of these processes may carry profound medicolegal implications which may have a bearing on the liability and culpability of the various parties involved. A pedestrian-vehicular incident involving a 53-year-old woman in whom a renal adenocarcinoma with tumour extension to the inferior vena cava and right atrium was discovered at autopsy is reported. The pathophysiological and biochemical disturbances associated with this tumour are discussed and their possible medicolegal implications evaluated.

Feasibility of adrenalectomy with radical nephrectomy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the justification of routine removal of ipsilateral adrenal gland as part of radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

The medical records, pathologic specimens, and computed tomographic (CT) scans of 77 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and ipsilateral adrenalectomy for RCC were reviewed. Comparison was made between radiologic analysis and pathologic findings regarding involvement of the adrenal gland.

RESULTS

The size of the renal tumor varied between 3.5 and 19 cm (mean 8.5). The upper pole was involved in 45%, the lower pole in 28%, and the midpole in 18% of the patients, and in 9% the whole kidney was involved by the tumor. Histologic findings showed that 72 (94%) of the 77 adrenal glands were normal and 70 of these were normal on CT as well. Two adrenal glands involved by metastases showed heterogeneous contrast entrancement on CT. The benign lesions of three adrenal glands were also picked up as abnormal on CT. In 2 patients adrenal glands could not be visualized on CT because of a paucity of retroperitoneal fat.

CONCLUSIONS

Adrenalectomy with nephrectomy may not be performed in patients with RCC in whom CT demonstrates normal adrenal glands. In patients with adrenal abnormality on CT, magnetic resonance imaging can separate metastases from incidental benign adrenal adenoma, further reducing the number of patients requiring removal of the adrenal gland.

Clinical significance of tumor angiogenesis in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

To determine the relationship between angiogenesis and various histopathologic features as well as clinical outcome in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

Microvessel density was quantified by using immunocytochemical staining of endothelial cells for factor VIII-related antigen of 36 specimens taken from patients with pathologic Stage pT1 or pT2 RCC. All patients underwent radical nephrectomy and were followed for a mean time of 97.3 months.

RESULTS

No association was noted between microvessel count (MVC) and either cell type, architecture, or tumor size. Inverse correlation was noted between MVC and nuclear area (P = 0.006), nuclear elipticity (P = 0.016), nuclear roughness (P = 0.039), and histologic grade (P = 0.047). Patients having tumors with low MVC had significantly better survival rate compared with those with high MVC neoplasms (P = 0.0014, by Cox proportional hazards method).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite lack of correlation with known predictors of survival, MVC provides independent prognostic information for patients with localized RCC.

Metachronous renal cell carcinoma metastasis to the contralateral adrenal gland

OBJECTIVES

Metachronous metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the contralateral adrenal gland is very rare. We review our experience with 5 such patients and compare it with reports in the literature.

METHODS

The records of all 350 patients who underwent nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in our center between 1975 and 1992 were reviewed. Five patients were found to have had solitary metachronous metastases to the contralateral adrenal gland on follow-up.

RESULTS

The adrenal metastasis was discovered 18 to 210 months (mean 66.8) after nephrectomy. In 2 patients the lesion was found incidentally on routine computed tomography scan; in the other 3 patients, diagnosis was by ultrasonography, performed because of flank pain and weight loss or routine follow-up. All patients underwent adrenalectomy. Survival ranged from 8 to 64 months (mean 36.4); 3 patients had no evidence of disease at 42, 44, and 64 months postoperatively, and 2 patients died of pulmonary metastasis at 8 and 24 months. Analysis of the clinical data of our 5 patients together with the 9 we found in the published reports revealed that the mean interval between nephrectomy and the appearance of adrenal metastasis was shorter in the patients who died.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of adrenalectomy for metachronous metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the contralateral adrenal gland are unpredictable. The prognosis is somewhat better when the mean interval between the nephrectomy and the appearance of the adrenal metastasis is longer than 18 months. We recommend adrenalectomy because long-term survival is expected in some of these patients.

[The intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) of locally spread and recurrent renal-cell carcinomas]

PURPOSE

Renal cell carcinomas are relatively radioresistant. After macroscopically incomplete tumor resection conventional external beam radiotherapy is dose-limited and additional systemic treatment with chemotherapy ineffective to achieve local control. In a pilot study the role of intraoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced or recurrent renal cell carcinomas was analysed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 1992 to July 1994 11 patients with a primary (n = 3) or recurrent renal cell carcinoma had IORT. One patient had complete resection and in 3 respectively 7 patients microscopically or macroscopically residual disease was left. Using 6 to 10 MeV, a single dose of 15 to 20 Gy was delivered to the fossa renalis and the corresponding paraaortic area. Based on three-dimensional treatment planning, additional external beam radiotherapy was given 3 to 4 weeks later (40 Gy, 2 Gy SD, 23 MV).

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up of 24.3 months 5 patients had died of distant metastases (lung, liver, bone, mediastinum) with a mean survival time of 11.5 months. Mean disease-free interval was 6.4 months. One patient suffered from a second malignancy. Two patients are alive with distant metastases. Local tumor control in the entire group was 100%. The calculated 4-year overall and disease-free survival was 47% and 34%. The postoperative course was affected in 3 patients (abscess n = 1, short dehiscence of the abdominal wound n = 2). The gastrointestinal toxicity during external beam radiotherapy was low. No IORT-specific late adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSION

After incomplete tumor resection local tumor control with minimal therapy related side effects could be achieved using intraoperative radiotherapy. With IORT the dose limitation in the radiotherapy of renal cell carcinoma could be overcome. The high distant metastases rate relativized overall prognosis. The low morbidity rate justifies further evaluation of this technique.

Natural history and therapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: the role of interleukin-2

BACKGROUND

Despite significant advances in understanding the biology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) during the past decade, metastatic disease remains nearly incurable and a major medical challenge. Because RCC is known to be immunogenic, immunotherapeutic agents such as recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) have represented encouraging treatment modalities.

METHODS

A review of the natural history of and therapeutic approaches to RCC was examined. Studies involving rIL-2 alone and in combination with other adjuvant therapies were critically evaluated.

RESULTS

Overall response rates for metastatic RCC patients treated with rIL-2 were similar (i.e., in the range of 15-20%), regardless of whether rIL-2 was administered as monotherapy or in combination with IFN-alpha. Recombinant IL-2 monotherapy response rates were similar to those of IFN-alpha, but with an increased frequency of complete responses and enhanced response duration. Subcutaneous administration generally resulted in lower toxicity than intravenous administration. The roles of chemotherapy or adoptive immunotherapy in combination with rIL-2 and IFN-alpha therapy remain unclear and require further study. The importance of patient performance status as a predictor of response and survival in rIL-2 therapy was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of rIL-2 with or without IFN-alpha may represent the most useful therapeutic approach currently available for patients with good performance status. In patients with borderline performance status or severe comorbid disease, therapeutic approaches depend on patient factors and outcome expectation and may involve cytokine therapy. However, regardless of performance status, palliative measures and/or observation are important choices, because the majority of patients with metastatic RCC are incurable.

Renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by (a) lack of early warning signs, which results in a high proportion of patients with metastases at the time of diagnosis; (b) protean clinical manifestations; and (c) resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The estimates of new diagnoses and deaths from kidney cancer in the United States during 1996 are 30,600 and 12,000, respectively. RCC occurs nearly twice as often in men as in women. The age at diagnosis is generally older than 40 years; the median age is in the midsixties. The incidence of RCC has been rising steadily. Between 1974 and 1990, there was a 38% increase in the number of patients who had a diagnosis of RCC. This increase was accompanied by a significant improvement in 5-year survival. Both trends are likely the result of improved diagnostic capability. Newer radiographic techniques, including ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, are detecting kidney tumors more frequently and at a lower disease stage, when tumors can be resected for cure. Surgical treatment is the only curative therapy for localized RCC. Radical nephrectomy remains the mainstay of surgical management, but techniques are being modified. These modifications include partial nephrectomy and resection of vena caval thrombi. In highly selected cases, surgical resection of locally recurrent RCC or of disease at a solitary metastatic site is associated with long-term survival. Metastatic RCC is highly resistant to the many systemic therapies that have been extensively investigated. A minority of patients achieve complete or partial response to interferon, interleukin-2, or both. Response can be dramatic but is rarely durable. Because most patients do not achieve response, these agents are not considered effective treatments for RCC, but the response in some patients indicates the need for continued research on their use. Identification of new agents with better antitumor activity against metastases remains a high priority in clinical investigation of therapy for this refractory disease.

Spontaneous caval tumor thrombus necrosis and regression of pulmonary lesions in renal cell cancer

Idiopathic regression of metastases is one of the features of the unpredictable behaviour of renal cell carcinoma. We report a patient with pulmonary metastases and a tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava with spontaneous regression of the lung lesions and necrosis of the thrombus before any therapy was instituted.

The role of nuclear morphometry for predicting disease outcome in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

More than one-third of patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) will have disease progression after nephrectomy. Present histopathologic variables cannot accurately predict the outcome of individual patients.

METHODS

Nuclear morphometry was performed by an image analyzer on histologic sections from 39 specimens of pathologic T1 and T2 classification RCC. All patients underwent radical nephrectomy and were followed for a mean of 7.6 years. A univariate analysis and then a multivariate stepwise regression method were used to correlate results with patients' outcome.

RESULTS

The best predictors of disease free interval were mean nuclear elongation factor (MNEF) (P = 0.023), mean nuclear regularity factor (MNRF) (P = 0.034), and mean nuclear area (MNA) (N = 0.038). Univariate analysis identified a significant correlation between patient survival and MNEF (P = 0.009), MNRF (P = 0.020) and MNA (P = 0.023). Combination of MNEF and MNA was even more strongly associated with survival (P = 0.0013). Multivariate analysis revealed that MNA (P = 0.044) and MNEF (P = 0.045) correlated independently with survival.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that nuclear morphometry provides objective independent prognostic information for patients with localized RCC.