Lymphatic metastasis and its treatment

Prognostic Impact of Lymphnode Metastases in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Lymphnode metastases (LMN) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has been associated with an unfavourable prognosis. However, the prognostic impact of LNM in mRCC in context of other solid organ metastases and throughout subsequent therapeutic lines is not well-defined. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective single-center analysis was designed to elucidate the impact of LNM in the context of other solid organ metastases and throughout subsequent therapeutic lines. METHODS: mRCC patients (pts) at our center were analysed (observation period, 04/00-03/16). Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and the impact of line of therapy as a co-variate. Pts were grouped into: with LNM [LNM(+)], without LNM [LNN(–)]. Subgroup analyses of LNM(+) was performed including the subgroup LNM(+) and other solid organ metastases [LNM(+) other] and LNM(+) without other solid organ metastases [LMN(+) only]. RESULTS: 383/401 mRCC pts were eligible. 318 (83.2%), 230 (60.1%) and 154 (40.5%) pts received 1stL, 2ndL and 3rdL medical treatment, respectively. In the overall population OS was 40.1 months (95%CI: 32.7–47.4), with superior OS in LNM(–) compared to LNM(+) pts (log rank, HR 1.7, 95%-CI 1.3-2.2, p < 0.001). This effect was maintained across lines of therapies. LNM(+) only had a similar risk of death as LNM(–) pts (HR 1.2, 95%-CI 0.8–2.0, p = 0.4), while the risk of death was significantly increased for LNM(+) other compared to LNM(–) (HR 1.9, 95%-CI 1.5–2.6, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: LNM(+) in mRCC is associated with a poor OS. However, impaired OS in LNM(+) might be associated with the presence of other solid organ metastases rather than with the existence of LNM alone. Further studies are warranted to support this hypothesis.

Practice patterns about the role of palliation in veterinary surgical oncology

Whether surgical palliative therapy is appropriate for oncologic veterinary patients is an increasing concern as pet age increases because of improved care. In this study, an online survey (available for 30 days), comprising 100 questions with structured response options, was administered to 492 diplomates of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS). The survey queried the technical, ethical, social, medical, and financial aspects of surgical palliative therapy for oncologic veterinary patients. Responses were received from 155 ECVS diplomates (31.5%, n = 155/492). Palliative surgery was a relatively common intervention in veterinary oncology, with 50% of respondents (n = 77.5/155) indicating that 75%-100% of oncological surgeries performed were palliative. The presence of metastasis was judged as a key determinant when deciding to perform palliative oncological surgery by 41% of the respondents (n = 63.5/155). The survey revealed that the most commonly performed procedures in palliative oncological surgery were marginal resection, debulking, and amputation. In contrast to human medicine, palliative limb-sparing surgery, stent placement, and embolization were rarely used in veterinary settings, mainly because of a general lack of expertise among veterinarians, elevated costs, and recourse to euthanasia. Taken together, the survey results highlight the need for appropriate guidelines in the field of oncological surgery. To establish general guidelines and direct veterinarians towards the most appropriate judgement, understanding how and what veterinary surgeons manage palliative oncological surgery and how they perceive the main ethical, social, medical, and financial concerns are essential. Such guidelines will lead to better care for ailing animals and will facilitate the path to healing for owners.

Clinical management of the regional lymph node

Appropriate clinical management of the regional lymph node remains controversial. This article briefly reviews the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, pathophysiology of lymphatic metastases, and some guidelines and rationale for clinical management.