Balancing treatment efficacy, toxicity and complication risk in elderly patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Risk prediction models for postoperative delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture: a systematic review

Objectives

To systematically evaluate the risk prediction models for postoperative delirium in older adult hip fracture patients.

Methods

Risk prediction models for postoperative delirium in older adult hip fracture patients were collected from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and Ovid via the internet, covering studies from the establishment of the databases to March 15, 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and used Stata 13.0 for meta-analysis of predictive factors and the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) to evaluate the risk prediction models for postoperative delirium in older adult hip fracture patients, evaluated the predictive performance.

Results

This analysis included eight studies. Six studies used internal validation to assess the predictive models, while one combined both internal and external validation. The Area Under Curve (AUC) for the models ranged from 0.67 to 0.79. The most common predictors were preoperative dementia or dementia history (OR = 3.123, 95% CI 2.108-4.626, p < 0.001), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (OR = 2.343, 95% CI 1.146-4.789, p < 0.05), and age (OR = 1.615, 95% CI 1.387-1.880, p < 0.001). This meta-analysis shows that these were independent risk factors for postoperative delirium in older adult patients with hip fracture.

Conclusion

Research on the risk prediction models for postoperative delirium in older adult hip fracture patients is still in the developmental stage. The predictive performance of some of the established models achieve expectation and the applicable risk of all models is low, but there are also problems such as high risk of bias and lack of external validation. Medical professionals should select existing models and validate and optimize them with large samples from multiple centers according to their actual situation. It is more recommended to carry out a large sample of prospective studies to build prediction models.

Systematic review registration

The protocol for this systematic review was published in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the registered number CRD42022365258.

Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma to Pancreas and Distant Organs 24 Years After Radical Nephrectomy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) is a common urological neoplasm, and even though surgical resection is effective for localized CCRCC, the prognosis of metastatic CCRCC is poor. Currently, there is a paucity of recognized effective therapeutic protocols for metastatic CCRCC.

Case presentation

A 76-year-old Asian man underwent radical left nephrectomy for CCRCC 26 years ago; this patient visited our hospital with abdominal pain due to multiple abdominal metastases 24 years after the nephrectomy. After metastasectomy, he underwent targeted therapy combined with a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, and the current imaging results indicate remarkable tumor remission.

Conclusions

Metachronous pancreatic metastasis from CCRCC after nephrectomy is rare, but clinicians and patients should not ignore this possibility. The combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy can result in satisfactory outcomes in cases where metastatic CCRCC continues to progress despite metastasectomy and targeted therapy. The combination of local and systemic therapy can be an effective therapeutic protocol for metastatic CCRCC, but there is no consensus on suitable therapeutics.

[Specificity of the management of metastatic renal cancer in the older patient]

AIM

To define the necessary arrangements of medical treatment with anti-angiogenics, mTOR inhibitor or systemic immunotherapies in the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in elderly patients.

METHOD

Bibliographical search was performed from the Medline bibliographic database (NLM Pubmed tool) and Embase focused on: metastatic renal cell carcinoma, elderly, treatment.

RESULTS

The selection criteria for the medical treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in elderly patients are the IMDC score, necessarily complemented by performance status, the tolerability profile of treatments, more frequent drug interactions, treatment adherence, management capacity of side effects, and patient preference. Each of these criteria is detailed in critical ways.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy and tolerability of medical treatments for metastatic renal cancer have not been reported as different depending on age. No dosage adjustment is recommended in principle. However, prevention and early treatment of side effects of treatment should be strengthened in elderly patients.

[Concepts in geriatric uro-oncology]

Uro-oncology is not only concerned with treatment methods themselves but also with therapeutic objectives and decision-making concepts involving algorithms. We discuss whether the latter is applicable to all patients groups or needs to be adapted in order to be suitable for elderly and frail patients with regard to their lifestyle and living situation as well as their altered physiology.

Immunotherapy in the Elderly

CONTEXT

Immunotherapy has historic and contemporary presence in prostate, urothelial (UC), and renal cell (RCC) carcinomas. However, robust data on utility and generalizability of these treatments in older patients are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in elderly patients with prostate cancer, UC, or RCC.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to October 2017 and according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. A narrative review of studies was performed.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Twenty-one reports were included regarding prostate cancer (four studies), UC (eight), and RCC (nine). In prostate cancer, sipuleucel-T improves survival (median age >70 yr) and similar results were seen in the PROSTVAC phase 2 trial. Ipilimumab has not improved survival independent of age; data for programmed cell death 1 inhibition is evolving. In metastatic UC, ≥50% of patients enrolled in pivotal checkpoint inhibitor studies were aged ≥65 yr. Three studies reported similar objective response rates (ORRs) in patients aged <65 versus ≥65 yr, whereas one study reported comparable ORRs in patients <80 versus ≥80 yr. In metastatic RCC, cytokine studies showed no efficacy difference by age; one study reported more ≥grade 3 toxicity in patients aged ≥65 yr. One vaccine-based study suggests that older age was associated with shorter survival. The benefit of nivolumab in second-line therapy was more apparent for patients aged 65-<75 yr than for those aged ≥75 yr. Across tumor subtypes, immunotherapy was well tolerated with minimal data stratifying toxicity by age.

CONCLUSIONS

Contemporary immunotherapy has informed practice in genitourinary malignancies independent of patient age. Trial reporting of outcomes by age will be important to understand the generalizability of ongoing investigations for elderly patients.

PATIENT SUMMARY

With the growing use of immunotherapy in genitourinary malignancies, benefits appear to apply independent of age. As the field advances, detailed reporting on outcomes and toxicities by age will be informative for both patients and physicians when discussing treatment options.

Clinical and Economic Outcomes in Elderly Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Starting Pazopanib or Sunitinib Treatment: A Retrospective Medicare Claims Analysis

Introduction

Studies indicate similar survival and toxicity between pazopanib and sunitinib, but few have examined real-world outcomes among elderly patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The purpose of this retrospective claims analysis was to assess real-world overall survival (OS), healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and healthcare costs (both all-cause and associated with RCC diagnosis) among elderly advanced RCC patients starting pazopanib or sunitinib treatment.

Methods

Advanced RCC patients aged 65 years or older who started first-line treatment with pazopanib or sunitinib (index drug; the initiation date was the index date) were identified from the 100% Medicare database plus Part D linkage (January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2014). Patients were stratified by index drug and matched 1:1 with use of propensity scores based on baseline characteristics. OS was assessed from the index date to death and compared by Kaplan–Meier analyses and univariable Cox models; patients were censored at the end of eligibility/data. Monthly HRU and costs from an intent-to-treat perspective were compared by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

Results

Baseline characteristics were balanced after matching (both N = 522). Treatment with pazopanib was associated with significantly longer median OS compared with treatment with sunitinib (18.2 months vs 14.6 months, respectively; log-rank p = 0.015). Pazopanib was associated with significantly lower monthly all-cause costs compared with sunitinib ($8845 vs $10,416, respectively), as well as lower inpatient costs associated with RCC diagnosis ($1542 vs $2522), fewer monthly inpatient admissions (0.179 vs 0.262), and shorter length of inpatient stay (1.375 days vs 1.883 days; all p ≤ 0.004).

Conclusions

Among elderly Medicare patients with advanced RCC, first-line pazopanib tretament was associated with significantly longer OS, as well as lower healthcare costs and HRU, compared with first-line sunitinib treatment.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12325-017-0628-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pharmacovigilance Assessment of Immune-Mediated Reactions Reported for Checkpoint Inhibitor Cancer Immunotherapies

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab are checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) that activate T-cell-mediated immune response. CPI can provide durable benefits to some cancer patients with melanoma, renal cell cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, or a growing list of other cancers. However, CPI treatment is also associated with adverse immune-mediated reactions (IMRs) that can be life-threatening. This pharmacovigilance analysis aims to characterize IMR signals in relation to CPI treatment.

DESIGN

Retrospective pharmacovigilance disproportionality analysis.

DATA SOURCE

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Adverse event reports submitted to FAERS between 2011 and 2015 were analyzed. CPIs were identified by generic names, and IMRs were identified by MedDRA Preferred Terms. Empirical Bayes geometric means with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (EB05-EB95) were calculated as CPI-IMR association metrics. Signals were defined as metrics with EB05 ≥ 2.0. Overall, 1,018 IMR events were submitted for CPIs, corresponding to 76% for ipilimumab, 15% for nivolumab, and 9% for pembrolizumab. The period of data collection precluded data on the most recently approved CPI agents. IMRs consisted of 51% colitis, 16% endocrinopathies, 12% pneumonitis, 11% hepatitis, 4% infusion-related reactions, 3% nephritis, and 3% other IMRs. Colitis contributed to 63% and 41% of IMRs for ipilimumab and nivolumab, respectively. Pneumonitis and hepatitis contributed to a majority of IMRs for pembrolizumab, for which nephritis and infusion-related reactions were not reported. Signals of IMRs were detected for CPIs as a class (EB05 = 12.4) and individual agents: ipilimumab (EB05 = 13.2), nivolumab (EB05 = 15.0), and pembrolizumab (EB05 = 7.3). Colitis and pneumonitis had the strongest signals for CPIs (EB05 = 45.6 and EB05 = 17.6, respectively). Colitis was the strongest signal for ipilimumab (EB05 = 54.2), and pneumonitis was the strongest signal for nivolumab (EB05 = 48.0) and pembrolizumab (EB05 = 21.8).

CONCLUSION

Cancer immunotherapy with CPIs is associated with a multitude of IMRs, especially colitis and pneumonitis. Individual CPIs had variable IMR signals, and pharmacoepidemiologic studies are required to evaluate the identified signals.

[Renal cell carcinoma in older and geriatric patients]

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a disease of older humans. Due to increased detection of tumours by ultrasound and computed tomography, the number of incidentally diagnosed RCCs has increased. These tumours are usually smaller and of lower stage. Furthermore, there is an increase of older people in the population.

OBJECTIVES

Characteristics of tumour biology, prognosis, diagnostics and therapy of localized, advanced and metastatic RCC in old and geriatric patients are provided.

METHODS

Systematic literature review, analysis and discussion of original research articles and expert opinions.

RESULTS

The surgical treatment of RCC in old and geriatric patients requires attention to increased morbidity and mortality. Active surveillance or ablations are alternatives to surgical treatment in localized RCC. Systemic therapy in metastatic tumours exhibit analogous efficacy with slightly worse toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

RCC in old and geriatric patients requires an adaptation of classic therapeutic strategies. Management should be adjusted individually to age and comorbidities. Efficacy, risk and toxicity of all therapeutic options should be considered. A multidisciplinary approach is important for diagnosis, assessment and therapy. Recommendations should be discussed with patients and their relatives according to the individual needs, and treatment decisions should be based on patient preferences wherever possible.

Predictors of growth kinetics and outcomes in small renal masses (SRM ≤4 cm in size): Tayside Active Surveillance Cohort (TASC) Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine outcomes of small renal masses (≤4 cm) on active surveillance and explore factors which can influence their growth.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred twenty six patients between January 2007 and December 2014 were analysed using cross-linked methodology of healthcare data and independent review. Cancer specific and non-specific survival were the primary outcomes. Growth kinetics, factors influencing growth and need for interventions were secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

101 (64.4%) solid and 4 (5.9%) cystic SRMs showed growth. 43 (19.02%) of SRMs required treatment interventions. Seven patients (7/158; 4.4%) died due to renal cancer at a median follow-up of 21.7 (SD 10.6, min 6-42) months, all in solid category. Independent review of serial radiological imaging of these seven cases showed two patients had subtle metastatic disease at the initial presentation, and 5 of the 7 did not adhere to recommended imaging regime. 33 (33/158; 20.8%) died due to other causes including non-renal cancers (14/158; 8.8%). Multivariate analyses showed that lower eGFR at baseline, co-morbidities and tumour location were independently associated with growth in size.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher cancer-specific mortality was seen in the present study compared to the reported literature. Independent critical review of imaging of cases with poor outcome underscored the importance of adherence to a robust protocol including follow up. Comorbid conditions had a significant impact on growth and overall survival of patients with SRMs.