A scoring algorithm to predict survival for patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a stratification tool for prospective clinical trials

Impact of Complete Surgical Resection of Metastatic Lesions in Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Complete metastasectomy (CM) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has demonstrated efficacy in the cytokine era, but its effectiveness in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains unclear. A multi-institutional database included clinicopathological data of 367 patients with mRCC. Patients were divided into two groups: the CM group and the non-CM group. These two groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Cox proportional hazard models were used to detect factors associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) from mRCC diagnosis. The CM group showed a significant association with longer overall survival compared to the non-CM group in the PSM-unadjusted cohorts (p < 0.001, hazard ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.69), but no superiority was noted in the adjusted cohorts. The median DFS after CM was 24 months, with no significant differences based on relapse timing. Notably, the international metastatic RCC database consortium risk categories and metastatic burden were associated with DFS. This study supports the potential of CM in mRCC management during the TKI/ICI era, although limitations including sample size and selection bias need to be considered.

Understanding and integrating cytoreductive nephrectomy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the management of metastatic RCC

Cytoreductive nephrectomy became accepted as standard of care for selected patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) because of improved survival observed in patients treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy in combination with interferon-α in two randomized clinical trials published in 2001. Over the past two decades, novel systemic therapies have shown higher treatment response rates and improved survival outcomes compared with interferon-α. During this rapid evolution of mRCC treatments, systemic therapies have been the primary focus of clinical trials. Results from multiple retrospective studies continue to suggest an overall survival benefit for selected patients treated with nephrectomy in combination with systemic mRCC treatments, with the notable exception of one debated clinical trial. The optimal timing for surgery is unknown, and proper patient selection remains crucial to improving surgical outcomes. As systemic therapies continue to evolve, clinicians have an increasing need to understand how to incorporate cytoreductive nephrectomy into the management of mRCC.

Proteogenomics of clear cell renal cell carcinoma response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) Sunitinib is one the therapies approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma. Here, we undertake proteogenomic profiling of 115 tumors from patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) undergoing Sunitinib treatment and reveal the molecular basis of differential clinical outcomes with TKI therapy. We find that chromosome 7q gain-induced mTOR signaling activation is associated with poor therapeutic outcomes with Sunitinib treatment, whereas the aristolochic acid signature and VHL mutation synergistically caused enhanced glycolysis is correlated with better prognosis. The proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis further highlights the responsibility of mTOR signaling for non-response to Sunitinib. Immune landscape characterization reveals diverse tumor microenvironment subsets in ccRCC. Finally, we construct a multi-omics classifier that can detect responder and non-responder patients (receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve, 0.98). Our study highlights associations between ccRCC molecular characteristics and the response to TKI, which can facilitate future improvement of therapeutic responses.

Surgical Approach in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Literature Review

The treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma has undergone considerable advances in the last two decades. Cytoreductive nephrectomy and metastasectomy retains a role in patients with a limited metastatic burden. The choice of optimal treatment regimen remains a matter of debate. The article summarises the current role of surgery in metastatic kidney cancer.

A multiomics disease progression signature of low-risk ccRCC

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common renal cancer. Identification of ccRCC likely to progress, despite an apparent low risk at the time of surgery, represents a key clinical issue. From a cohort of adult ccRCC patients (n = 443), we selected low-risk tumors progressing within a 5-years average follow-up (progressors: P, n = 8) and non-progressing (NP) tumors (n = 16). Transcriptome sequencing, miRNA sequencing and proteomics were performed on tissues obtained at surgery. We identified 151 proteins, 1167 mRNAs and 63 miRNAs differentially expressed in P compared to NP low-risk tumors. Pathway analysis demonstrated overrepresentation of proteins related to “LXR/RXR and FXR/RXR Activation”, “Acute Phase Response Signaling” in NP compared to P samples. Integrating mRNA, miRNA and proteomic data, we developed a 10-component classifier including two proteins, three genes and five miRNAs, effectively differentiating P and NP ccRCC and capturing underlying biological differences, potentially useful to identify “low-risk” patients requiring closer surveillance and treatment adjustments. Key results were validated by immunohistochemistry, qPCR and data from publicly available databases. Our work suggests that LXR, FXR and macrophage activation pathways could be critically involved in the inhibition of the progression of low-risk ccRCC. Furthermore, a 10-component classifier could support an early identification of apparently low-risk ccRCC patients.

Prognostic significance of pseudocapsule status in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Background

We sought to determine whether pseudocapsule (PS) features have prognostic implications in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 231 patients diagnosed with mRCC and treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors; 188 patients with data available regarding the tumor-parenchyma interfacial PS of the primary tumor were enrolled for analysis. PS status was evaluated as intact (grade 0), merely involved (grade 1), penetrated (grade 2), and absent (grade 3). We applied the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model to assess the survival impact.

Results

Of the 188 patients, 19 (10.1%), 61 (32.4%), 96 (51.1%) and 12 (6.4%) had grade 0, 1, 2 and 3 PS, respectively. PS status was significantly associated with histology (P=0.0206), venous tumor embolus (P=0.0511), microvascular invasion (P=0.0108) and microsatellite formation (P=0.0097). Patients without a PS had the worst overall survival (OS), with a 3-year OS rate of 12.7%, whereas the OS rates for grades 0, 1 and 2 were 78.8%, 50.8% and 43.6%, respectively. Adjusted by other variables, grade 3 and grade 2 PS gave rise to a much higher risk of death across the cohort [hazard ratio (HR) =5.217, P=0.0182; HR =3.765, P=0.0281, respectively]. Sarcomatoid change was also an independent factor for OS (HR =2.932, P=0.0075). In contrast, microsatellite formation was not associated with survival in the cohort.

Conclusions

PS status has prognostic implications for OS in metastatic renal cancer. The absence of the PS and sarcomatoid change are two pathological features related to an extremely poor prognosis.

Bim Expression in Peritumoral Lymphocytes is Associated with Survival in Patients with Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Bim (BCL-2-interacting mediator of cell death) is a downstream pro-apoptotic signaling molecule activated by the PD-1 pathway. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if Bim expression in peritumoral T-lymphocytes (PTLs) is associated with survival in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry staining for Bim was performed on paraffin-embedded tumor tissue blocks from patients with metastatic ccRCC who underwent nephrectomy between 1990-2004. Associations of Bim expression with cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) from date of metastasis were evaluated using multivariable Cox regression models, adjusting for age, sex, and metastases-score. RESULTS: 525 patients with metastatic ccRCC, of whom 169 (32%) had metastases at time of nephrectomy were studied. After multivariable adjustment, high Bim expression remained associated with worse CSS (HR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.07–1.59; p = 0.008) and OS (HR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.06–1.55; p = 0.01). The interaction between Bim and PD-L1 was not statistically significant for CSS (p = 0.68) or OS (p = 0.57), suggesting that the associations between Bim and survival outcomes were not significantly different based on tumor PD-L1 expression. CONCLUSION: High Bim expression in PTLs at nephrectomy is prognostic of worse CSS and OS in patients with metastatic ccRCC, irrespective of tumor PD-L1 expression. The role of earlier PD-1/PD-L1-directed therapy warrants evaluation in these patients.

Prognostic Factors in De Novo Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Report From the Latin American Renal Cancer Group

PURPOSE

To assess the effect of clinical and pathological variables on cancer-specific and overall survival (OS) in de novo metastatic patients from a collaborative of primarily Latin American countries.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 4,060 patients with renal cell carcinoma diagnosed between 1990 and 2015, a total of 530 (14.5%) had metastasis at clinical presentation. Relationships between clinical and pathological parameters and treatment-related outcomes were analyzed by Cox regression and the log-rank method.

RESULTS

Of 530 patients, 184 (90.6%) had died of renal cell carcinoma. The median OS of the entire cohort was 24 months. American Society of Anesthesiology classification 3-4 (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.64), perirenal fat invasion (HR: 2.02), and ≥ 2 metastatic organ sites (HR: 2.19) were independent prognostic factors for 5-year OS in multivariable analyses. We created a risk group stratification with these variables: no adverse risk factors (favorable group), median OS not reached; one adverse factor (intermediate group), median OS 33 months (HR: 2.04); and two or three adverse factors (poor risk group), median OS 14 months (HR: 3.58).

CONCLUSION

Our study defines novel prognostic factors that are relevant to a Latin American cohort. With external validation, these easily discerned clinical variables can be used to offer prognostic information across low- and middle-income countries.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors following the surgical resection of renal cell carcinoma spinal metastases

The efficacy of surgical resection in metastatic renal cell carcinoma is an active and important research field in the postcytokine era. Bone metastases, especially in the spine, compromise patient performance status. Metastasectomy is indicated, if feasible, because it helps to achieve the best clinical outcomes possible compared with other treatments. This study examined the postoperative survival and prognostic factors in patients who underwent metastasectomy of spinal lesions. The retrospective study included 65 consecutive patients with metastatic renal cell carcinomas who were operated on by spinal metastasectomy between 1995 and 2017 at our institution. The cancer‐specific survival times from the first spinal metastasectomy to death or the last follow‐up (≥3 years) were determined using Kaplan‐Meier analysis. Potential factors influencing survival were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models. Planned surgical resection of all the spine tumors was achieved in all patients. Of these, 38 had complete metastasectomy of all visible metastases, including extraspinal lesions. In all patients, the estimated median cancer‐specific survival time was 100 months. The 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year cancer‐specific survival rates were 77%, 62%, and 48%, respectively. The survival times after spinal metastasectomy were similar in both cytokine and postcytokine groups. In multivariate analyses, postoperative disability, the coexistence of liver metastases, multiple spinal metastases, and incomplete metastasectomy were significant risk factors associated with short‐term survival. Complete metastasectomy, including extraspinal metastases, was associated with improved cancer‐specific survival. Proper patient selection and complete metastasectomy provide a better prognosis in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients.

Outcomes of systemic targeted therapy in recurrent renal cell carcinoma treated with adjuvant sunitinib

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and tolerability of rechallenge with sunitinib and other targeted therapies (TTs) in patitents with relapsed recurrent renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the advanced setting.

METHODS

In this multi-institutional retrospective study, patients with relapsed RCC were rechallenged with sunitinib or other systemic TTs as a first-line therapeutic approach after failed adjuvant sunitinib treatment. Patient characteristics, treatments and clinical outcomes were recorded. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients with relapses were recorded, and 25 of these (73.5%) were men. Twenty-five patients were treated with systemic TT: 65% of patients received TT against the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway (including sunitinib), 21.7% received mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors and 13% received immunotherapy. The median (interquartile range) time to relapse was 20.3 (5.2-20.4) months from diagnosis, and 7.5 months (1.0-8.5) from the end of adjuvant suntinib treatment. At a median follow-up of 23.5 months, 24 of the 25 patients had progressed on first-line systemic therapy. The median PFS was 12.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.78-18.2). There were no statistical differences in PFS between different treatments or sunitinib rechallenge. PFS was not statistically different in patients relapsing on or after adjuvant suntinib treatment (≤ 6 or >6 months after adjuvant suntinib ending). The ORR was 20.5%. The median OS was 29.1 months (95% CI 16.4-41.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Rechallenge with sunitinib or other systemic therapies is still a feasible therapeutic option that provides patients with advanced or metastastic RCC with additional clinical benefits with regard to PFS and OS after failed response to adjuvant sunitinib.

An unusual outcome of papillary renal cell carcinoma with lung metastases: a case report and review of literature

Background

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a heterogeneous group of malignant epithelial tumors of the kidney. It accounts for more than 90% of all kidney cancers. However, papillary RCC is the second most common histologic subtype representing 10–15% of all RCCs. The mean age of presentation for papillary RCC ranges between 59 and 63 years but more importantly when RCC is diagnosed at a younger age, the possibility of an underlying hereditary kidney cancer syndrome should be considered. RCC potentially metastasizes to many different organs with lung being the commonest site accounting for 45.2%. The treatment for metastatic RCC is mostly multimodal for most patients. However, patients with untreated pulmonary metastases have been observed to have very poor prognosis with a 5-year overall survival rate of only 5% or even less and thus the need to report on the unusual outcome of our patient who had a metastatic disease.

Case presentation

The present study reports a papillary renal cell carcinoma with multiple lung metastases in a 31-year-old woman who presented with progressive right flank mass and pain with no chest symptoms. She underwent cytoreductive radical nephrectomy via a right subcostal incision. Patient, however, did not undergo metastasectomy nor palliative systemic therapy and was seen 5 years post-nephrectomy.

Conclusion

Our patient with metastatic RCC, without undergoing metastasectomy nor palliative systemic therapy, remained stable with 5-year progression-free survival post-cytoreductive nephrectomy.

Creation of a primary tumor tissue expression biomarker-augmented prognostic model for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Clinical and pathological factors alone have limited prognostic ability in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Bim, a downstream pro-apoptotic molecule in the PD-1 signaling pathway, has recently been associated with survival in other malignancies. We sought to determine if tissue biomarkers including Bim, added to a previously reported clinical metastases score, improved prediction of cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with metastatic ccRCC.

METHODS

Patients with metastatic ccRCC who underwent nephrectomy between 1990 and 2004 were identified using our institutional registry. Sections from paraffin-embedded primary tumor tissue blocks were used for immunohistochemistry staining for Bim, PD-1, B7-H1 (PD-L1), B7-H3, CA-IX, IMP3, Ki67, and survivin. Biomarkers that were significantly associated with CSS after adjusting for the metastases score were used to develop a biomarker-specific multivariable model using a bootstrap resampling approach and forward selection. Predictive ability was summarized using a bootstrap-corrected c-index.

RESULTS

The cohort included 602 patients: 192 (32%) with metastases at diagnosis and 410 (68%) who developed metastases after nephrectomy. Median follow-up was 9.6 years (IQR 4.2-12.8), during which 504 patients died of RCC. Bim, IMP3, Ki67, and survivin expression were significantly associated with CSS after adjusting for the metastases score, and were eligible for biomarker-specific model inclusion. After variable selection, high Bim (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.78; P <0.001), high survivin (HR = 1.35; 95% CI 1.08-1.68; P = 0.008), and the metastases score (HR = 1.13 per 1 point; 95% CI 1.10-1.16; P <0.001) were retained in the final multivariable model (c-index = 0.69).

CONCLUSION

We created a prognostic model combining the clinical metastases score and 2 primary tumor tissue expression biomarkers, Bim and survivin, for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who underwent nephrectomy.

Profiles of overall survival-related gene expression-based risk signature and their prognostic implications in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The present work aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of overall survival (OS)-related genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and to develop a nomogram for clinical use. Transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were collected to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ccRCC patients with OS > 5 years (149 patients) and those with <1 year (52 patients). In TCGA training set (265 patients), seven DEGs (cytochrome P450 family 3 subfamily A member 7 (CYP3A7), contactin-associated protein family member 5 (CNTNAP5), adenylate cyclase 2 (ADCY2), TOX high mobility group box family member 3 (TOX3), plasminogen (PLG), enamelin (ENAM), and collagen type VII α 1 chain (COL7A1)) were further selected to build a prognostic risk signature by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model. Survival analysis confirmed that the OS in the high-risk group was dramatically shorter than their low-risk counterparts. Next, univariate and multivariate Cox regression revealed the seven genes-based risk score, age, and Tumor, lymph Node, and Metastasis staging system (TNM) stage were independent prognostic factors to OS, based on which a novel nomogram was constructed and validated in both TCGA validation set (265 patients) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium cohort (ICGC, 84 patients). A decent predictive performance of the nomogram was observed, the C-indices and corresponding 95% confidence intervals of TCGA training set, validation set, and ICGC cohort were 0.78 (0.74–0.82), 0.75 (0.70–0.80), and 0.70 (0.60–0.80), respectively. Moreover, the calibration plots of 3- and 5 years survival probability indicated favorable curve-fitting performance in the above three groups. In conclusion, the proposed seven genes signature-based nomogram is a promising and robust tool for predicting the OS of ccRCC, which may help tailor individualized therapeutic strategies.

Prognostic impact of metastasectomy in renal cell carcinoma in the postcytokine therapy era

OBJECTIVES

To explore the real-world data regarding survival following metastasectomy (MS) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the postcytokine therapy era.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) between January 2008 and December 2018 at our institutions were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were classified into three groups according to their MS status: (1) complete MS (cMS), (2) incomplete MS (icMS), and (3) without MS (nonMS). Factors for overall survival (OS) after diagnosis were analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, 314 patients were evaluated. During the follow-up period (median: 25.3 months), a total of 98 patients (31.2%) underwent at least one MS. The cMS group (n = 45, 14.3%) had a significantly longer OS (median: not reached [N.R.]) than the icMS (n = 53, 16.9%) (81.5 months, P= 0.0042) and nonMS groups (28.1 months, P< 0.0001). The icMS group had a significantly longer OS than the nonMS group did (P= 0.0010). Multivariate analysis showed that the MS status was an independent factor for OS (cMS vs. nonMS: P= 0.0004; icMS vs. nonMS: P= 0.0176), together with histopathological type, International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium risk, liver metastasis status, and prior nephrectomy status (all, P< 0.05). In addition, the OS was comparable throughout the eras of systemic therapy (early molecular-targeted therapy, late molecular-targeted therapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitor eras) in the MS group (median: 121.9 vs. N.R. vs. N.R. months, P= 0.948).

CONCLUSIONS

MS, especially cMS improved survival in selected patients with mRCC in the postcytokine therapy era. In addition, MS still plays a significant role in the current systemic therapy.

Survival following cytoreductive nephrectomy: a comparison of existing prognostic models

OBJECTIVE

To validate models currently used to predict metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) outcomes in a cohort of patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 10 RCC prognostic models (International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium [IMDC]; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [MSKCC]; Culp; Leibovich; University of California at Los Angeles Integrated Staging System [UISS]; Stage, Size, Grade, and Necrosis [SSIGN]; Yaycioglu; Karakiewicz; Cindolo; and Margulis) were chosen based on clinical relevance and use in clinical trial design. Model validation was performed using patients who underwent CN at a single institution between 2005 and 2017, and model discrimination (ability to select patients at risk of death) was assessed. Concordance indices (c-index) were calculated and compared with originally published c-indices.

RESULTS

A total of 515 CN patients were stratified according to the prognostic models. A total of 387 (75%) died over the study period, with estimated 3-year survival of 46.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 41.6-50.4%). All models' discriminatory capacity underperformed when compared to the originally published c-indices. The c-indices ranged from 0.53 (95% CI 0.50-0.56) for the Cindolo model to 0.61 (95% CI 0.58-0.64) for the Leibovich model. The MSKCC and IMDC models performed poorly with c-indices of 0.55 and 0.56, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Currently used prognostic models have limited discriminatory capacity when applied to a modern cohort of patients undergoing CN. They are inadequate for risk stratification and randomisation in prospective clinical trials of untreated patients with mRCC. Caution should be used when using these models for clinical decision making.

Timing and distribution of early renal cell carcinoma recurrences stratified by pathological nodal status in M0 patients at the time of nephrectomy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the timing and distribution of first renal cell carcinoma metastasis after nephrectomy stratified by nodal status.

METHODS

We evaluated patients treated with nephrectomy for sporadic, unilateral renal cell carcinoma between 1970 and 2011 who subsequently developed distant metastasis to three or fewer sites. Site-specific metastases-free 2-year survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Associations of nodal status with time to metastasis were evaluated using multivariable Cox regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 1049 patients met the inclusion criteria (135 pN1, 914 pN0/x patients). The median time to identification of first distant metastasis for pN1 patients was 0.4 years (interquartile range 0.2-1.1 years) versus 2.2 years (interquartile range 0.6-6.0 years) in pN0/x patients. The most common site of metastasis was to the lung, but this occurred earlier in pN1 patients (median 0.3 years vs 2.0 years). pN1 was associated with significantly lower site-specific 2-year metastases-free survival when compared with pN0/x for lung (37% vs 70%, P < 0.001), bone (63% vs 87%, P < 0.001), non-regional lymph nodes (60% vs 96%, P < 0.001) and liver metastases (79% vs 91%, P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, pN1 status remained significantly associated with lung, bone, and non-regional lymph node (all P < 0.001) metastases, but it was no longer associated with liver metastases (P = 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

pN1 nodal status in M0 patients treated with nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma is associated with more frequent early metastasis to sites conferring poor prognosis when compared with pN0/x. Our findings highlight the importance of rigorous, early surveillance though the multimodal use of a comprehensive history, physical, laboratory and radiological studies, as outlined in societal guidelines.

Sorafenib Versus Observation Following Radical Metastasectomy for Clear-cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results from the Phase 2 Randomized Open-label RESORT Study

BACKGROUND

In selected metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients, radical metastasectomy followed by observation is a potential strategy. It is still to be defined whether systemic therapy should be administered following metastasectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the potential benefit of postoperative treatment with sorafenib compared with observation alone after radical metastasectomy in mRCC patients.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The RESORT trial was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 2 study conducted between November 2012 and November 2017 in Italy. Patients with clear-cell mRCC pretreated with nephrectomy and undergoing radical metastasectomy (three or fewer lesions) were eligible for the study. Patients were randomized (1:1) within 12 wk from metastasectomy to sorafenib (standard dose 400 mg twice daily) or observation for a maximum of 52 wk. Stratification factors were interval from nephrectomy, site, and number of lesions. Overall, 76 patients were screened and 69 were randomized: 33 were assigned to sorafenib and 36 to observation. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival and the safety profile.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

RFS curves were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to statistically compare the curves.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

At a median follow-up of 38 mo, median RFS was 37 mo (95% confidence interval [CI] 20-not available [NA]) in the observation arm versus 21 mo (95% CI 11-NA) in the sorafenib arm (log-rank test p = 0.404), with 12-, 24-, and 36-mo RFS probability of 74% versus 63%, 59% versus 49%, and 50% versus 41%, respectively, in the observation versus the sorafenib arm. Any-grade adverse event (AE) rates were 84% in the sorafenib arm and 31% in the observation arm; grade ≥3 AE rates were 22% and 3% in the sorafenib and the observation arm, respectively, with a rate of treatment discontinuation for AEs of 19% in the sorafenib arm.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective study showed that systemic treatment with sorafenib did not increase RFS as compared with observation in mRCC patients following radical metastasectomy.

PATIENT SUMMARY

This article reports the clinical outcome of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with sorafenib or managed with an observation-alone strategy after the radical surgery of metastases. We found that sorafenib did not improve the patient outcome in terms of relapse-free survival in this selected population.

Rare Case of Synchronous Cystic Duct Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

The common metastatic sites of renal cell cancer (RCC) are the lung, bone, liver, brain, adrenal glands, and contralateral kidney. Metastasis to the gallbladder is rare, and cystic duct metastasis from RCC has been reported in only one metachronous case. This is the first report of a case of synchronous cystic duct metastasis from RCC.

CASE REPORT

A 72-year-old woman presenting with hematuria had a history of Cushing disease approximately 10 years previously. Enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a mass measuring 5.8 × 3.0 cm in the left kidney, which was strongly enhanced in the early phase and washed out in the late phase. A mass measuring 2 cm in diameter was seen in the left adrenal gland, and a 1.0-cm mass was noted in the right adrenal gland. Multiple tiny masses were detected in the cystic duct. Left renal cell carcinoma, cystic duct metastasis, and bilateral adrenal gland metastases were diagnosed. Because the metastatic tumor was close to the common bile duct, we performed left nephrectomy, bilateral adrenalectomy, cholecystectomy, resection of the extrahepatic bile duct, and hepaticojejunostomy. Pathological findings showed that the renal tumor was clear cell carcinoma, as were the bilateral adrenal tumors and cystic duct tumor. The patient died 30 months after the operation.

Is Chest Computed Tomography Always Necessary Following Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma? A Pilot Study in Single Tertiary Institution

PURPOSE

We evaluated patterns of thoracic recurrence from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following nephrectomy as a pilot study.

METHODS

Data of consecutive 39 patients who had recurrent RCC in the abdomen or thorax following curative nephrectomy were evaluated. Recurrence sites were analyzed with abdomen and chest computed tomography (CT), or positron emission tomography/CT. All patients had no metastasis before initial nephrectomy. Recurrence was classified into 3 types according to the site of initially detected recurrence: (a) abdomen-only type, (b) abdomen and thorax type, and (c) thorax-only type. Vertebral level of recurrence site in the thorax-only level was investigated. University of California Los Angeles-Integrated Staging System was utilized for risk stratification (eg, low, intermediate, and high-risk).

RESULTS

Rate of intermediate or high risk was 89.7% (37/39). Rate of thoracic recurrence, regardless of concurrent abdominal recurrence, was 71.8% (28/39). Rate of thorax-only type was 53.8% (21/39). In thorax-only type, median vertebral level of recurrence site was T10 (range, T3-T12), and no patient with low risk had metastasis above the T10 level alone. In intermediate or high risk, 89.2% (33/37) had at least a recurrent lesion at the level of T7 or lower.

CONCLUSIONS

In low-risk patients, upper thoracic recurrence alone may be very rare after curative surgery. In majority of intermediate- or high-risk patients, initial recurrence may occur in the abdomen or lower thorax, which indicates abdomen CT covering T7 level may be an effective tool for postoperative follow-up in RCC.

Efficacy of sorafenib adjuvant therapy in northwestern Chinese patients with non-metastatic renal-cell carcinoma after nephrectomy: A multicenter retrospective study

Recent studies have confirmed the efficacy of sorafenib for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma; however, its efficacy and safety as an adjuvant therapy in patients with non-metastatic and loco-regional renal cell carcinoma after surgery remains controversial. Thus, the aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant sorafenib therapy in such patients from 8 centers in northwestern China that were treated from August 2009 to December 2016.After surgery, the patients (n = 48) received oral sorafenib for 3 months. The control group (n = 48) comprised patients that underwent the same surgery from December 2009 to June 2016 but without adjuvant therapy who were matched 1:1 with the sorafenib group with respect to sex, age, pathological findings, disease stage and grade, operation time, and surgical procedure. The primary outcome compared between the groups was disease-free survival. Adverse events were also recorded to evaluate the safety of sorafenib. The influence of patients' characteristics and laboratory tests on recurrence was analyzed using unconditional logistic regression.Overall, the demographic characteristics of the 2 groups were similar. There was no significant difference in the rate of recurrence (8.3% for sorafenib patients and 6.2% for the matched patients, P = .66) or median disease-free survival between the 2 groups (hazard ratio = 1.561, 95% confidence interval = 0.349-6.987, P = .56). In multiple logistic regression analysis, increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) emerged as an independent predictor of recurrence risk (P = .02).These results indicate that postoperative sorafenib adjuvant therapy did not achieve the expected beneficial effect, pointing to the need for further studies to evaluate its utility in such cases.

Percutaneous microwave ablation for local control of metastatic renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

The purpose of the article is to evaluate the safety and oncologic efficacy of microwave ablation for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From September 2011 to December 2016, 33 mRCC were ablated in 18 patients using percutaneous microwave ablation. Sites of mRCC include retroperitoneum (n = 12), contralateral kidney (n = 6), liver (n = 6), lung (n = 5), adrenal gland (n = 5). Technical success, local, and distant tumor progression, and complications were assessed at immediate and follow-up imaging. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved for 33/33 (100%) mRCC tumors. Ablation provided durable local control for 28/30 (93%) mRCC tumors in 17 patients at a median duration of clinical and imaging follow-up of 1.6 years (IQR 0.7-3.6) and 0.8 years (IQR 0.5-2.7), respectively. In-hospital and perioperative mortality was 0%. There were 5 (15%) procedure-related complications including one high-grade event (Clavien-Dindo III). Four patients have died from mRCC at a median of 1.3 years (range 0.7-5.1) following ablation. Estimated OS (95% CI number still at risk) at 1, 2, and 5 years were 86% (53-96%, 11), 75% (39-92%, 8), and 75% (39-92%, 3), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Microwave ablation of oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma is safe and provides durable local control in appropriately selected patients.

Receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK)-mediated induction of metastatic spread and association with poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Inhibition of the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) has become a standard of care supportive treatment to prevent skeletal related events in cancer patients. Moreover, RANKL inhibition has been implicated with better survival outcome in lung cancer, while RANKL expression induces tumor progression and metastatic spread in vivo in breast cancer. Whether RANK/RANKL may have an impact on the pathogenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is currently unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective tissue micro array (TMA)-study was carried out determining the expression of RANK/RANKL in primary tumors of 306 ccRCC patients. Additionally, 24 ccRCC cell lines were employed for in vitro analyses of the RANK/RANKL axis including cell proliferation, migration and anchorage independent growth.

RESULTS

RANK (+) vs. RANK (-) tumors had both worse cancer specific survival (CSS) (6.3 vs. 1.3 years; p < 0.001) and recurrence free survival (RFS) (9.9 vs. 5.8 years; p < 0.001). RANK (+) (HR 2.21; p < 0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for CSS and RFS (HR 4.98; p < 0.001). RANKL treatment resulted in increased proliferation, soft agar growth, and colony formation of RANK (+) RCC cell lines, which could be reversed by treatment with an NF-κB inhibitor and with a combination of osteoprotegrin and RANKL in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

RANK is expressed in ccRCC tissue, correlates with clinicopathological features, survival outcome, and when stimulated with RANKL can induce ccRCC progression in vitro. Consequently, RANKL inhibition combined with standard of care treatment may be a promising approach to improve ccRCC patient's survival.

Simultaneous Gastric Metastasis From Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

While some reports are available regarding metachronous gastric metastasis from renal cell carcinoma after treatment, there are few reports of primary lesion detection based on the diagnosis of a gastric metastatic lesion. The patient in this case was an 80-year-old woman who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy after having developed anorexia 2 months earlier. A submucosal tumor with central umbilication was found in the gastric greater curvature. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a solid and hypoechoic mass with hypervascularity on color Doppler imaging that proliferated mainly within the submucosal layer. There was partial exposure of the tumor on the superficial layer. Biopsy was performed, as a neuroendocrine tumor was suspected; however, histopathological findings with immunostaining revealed gastric metastasis from clear renal cell carcinoma. Subsequently, contrast enhanced computed tomography showed right renal cell carcinoma and liver metastasis. Thus, molecularly targeted drug treatment was initiated by the Department of Urology. Our findings indicate that a primary lesion can be identified and prognosis can be assumed based on biopsy of the gastric metastatic lesion. Immunostaining of biopsy samples collected endoscopically could help achieve definite diagnosis.

Pedigree analysis, diagnosis and treatment in Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome: A report of three cases

The objective of the present study was to systematically investigate the clinical features, diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome in order to improve understanding of this disease. A total of 3 cases of VHL syndrome treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College (Zunyi, China) between September 2014 and October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The associated literature was reviewed, and the diagnostic and therapeutic features were discussed. Case 1 was diagnosed as VHL syndrome accompanied by a renal tumor on the right side, and radical tumor resection in the right kidney was performed. Postoperative pathological examination indicated clear cell carcinoma. Case 2 was diagnosed as VHL syndrome accompanied by bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma. The left-side adrenal tumor was removed, and postoperative pathological analysis was suggestive of adrenal pheochromocytoma. Case 3 visited the hospital due to the presence of masses on the left and right sides of the kidney, but did not undergo surgery for personal reasons. Follow-ups were scheduled subsequent to surgery at another hospital. The diagnosis in all 3 cases was confirmed by genetic testing, where VHL mutations were detected in all patients. Following surgery, pedigree and genetic analysis was performed in all 3 pedigrees and VHL mutations were identified in 7 family members. The diagnosis of VHL syndrome should be based on the clinical manifestation of the patients and the results of genetic tests. DNA analysis of mutations is the main method for diagnosis. An appropriate surgical plan should be formulated based on the site, size and number of tumors, and the condition of the patient. Since VHL syndrome is an inheritable genetic disorder and relapse following surgery is common, pedigree analysis of the patient and lifelong follow-ups are essential. Additionally, physicians should pay attention to VHL syndrome in order to avoid missing diagnosis or misdiagnosis.

[ISOLATED METASTASIS OF RENAL CELL CARCINOMA TO THE LARYNX: A CASE REPORT]

A 55-year-old man underwent right radical nephrectomy after the diagnosis of right renal cell carcinoma (RCC). He did not show any relapse or metastasis for 3 years and 5 months after surgery. He was admitted to the hospital in April 2014 with a throat discomfort. Laryngoscopy revealed a 5 mm supraglottic mass. The tumor was locally excised and pathology revealed metastatic RCC. While RCC frequently metastasizes to the lungs, bones, lymph nodes, and brain, an isolated metastasis of RCC to the larynx is an extremely rare event. We report a case of isolated RCC metastasis to the supraglottic larynx 3 years and 5 months after radical nephrectomy.

Secondary tumours of the ampulla of Vater: Case report and review of the literature

Secondary tumours of the ampulla of Vater are rare. Underlying primary tumours, clinical presentation, macroscopic appearance, treatment strategies and outcome of secondary ampullary lesions have not been systematically analysed. The present case study reported a 57-year old patient with an ampullary metastasis from renal cancer and a literature review was performed in which a further 32 patients were included. The most common responsible primary tumours were malignant melanoma and renal clear cell carcinoma, followed by breast cancer. The time interval between the diagnosis of the primary tumour and the ampullary metastasis was highly variable, and may be as long as 10 years, particularly for renal cancer. Patients may present with unspecific abdominal discomfort, jaundice or upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The gross appearance was largely indistinguishable from that of a primary tumour. Lesions may present as polypoid or irregular, soft and friable tumour mass, in certain cases with superficial ulceration. In ~50% of cases, the ampullary metastasis was the only metastatic lesion, while in the remaining cases, the cancer had spread to one or more organs. The prognosis was generally poor. The management requires a multi-modal approach, including endoscopic, surgical and oncological procedure.

The Clinical Presentation, Survival Outcomes, and Management of Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma and Cardiac Metastasis Without Inferior Vena Cava Involvement: Results From a Pooled Clinical Trial Database and Systematic Review of Reported Cases

BACKGROUND

Cardiac metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are uncommon and there are limited data regarding the presentation and outcomes of this population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with RCC with cardiac metastasis without inferior vena cava (IVC) involvement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a pooled retrospective analysis of metastatic RCC patients treated in 4 clinical trials. Additionally, we conducted a systematic review of cases reported in the literature from 1973 to 2015. Patients with cardiac metastases from RCC without IVC involvement were included. Patient and disease characteristics were described. Additionally, treatments, response to therapy, and survival outcomes were summarized.

RESULTS

Of 1765 metastatic RCC patients in the clinical trials database, 10 had cardiac metastases without IVC involvement. All patients received treatment with targeted therapy. There was 1 observed partial response (10%) and 6 patients showed stable disease (60%). The median progression-free survival was 6.9 months. The systematic review of reported clinical cases included 39 patients. In these patients, the most common cardiac site of involvement was the right ventricle (51%; n = 20). Patients were treated with medical (28%; n = 11) and/or surgical treatment (49%; n = 19) depending on whether disease was isolated (n = 13) or multifocal (n = 26).

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first series to report on the presentation and outcomes of patients with cardiac metastasis without IVC involvement in RCC. We highlight that although the frequency of patients with cardiac metastases without IVC involvement is low, these patients have a unique clinical presentation and warrant special multidisciplinary management.

Validation of preoperative variables and stratification of patients to help predict benefit of cytoreductive nephrectomy in the targeted therapy ERA

OBJECTIVES

To further elucidate which patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) may benefit from cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) before targeted therapy (TT), and to assess the overall survival of patients undergoing CN and TT versus TT alone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified 88 patients who underwent CN at our institution prior to planned TT and 35 patients who received TT without undergoing CN. Preoperative risk factors described in the literature were assessed in our patient population (serum albumin, liver metastasis, symptomatic metastasis, clinical ≥T3 disease, retroperitoneal and supradiaphragmatic lymphadenopathy). Patients were stratified by number of pretreatment risk factors and overall survival (OS) was compared.

RESULTS

TT patients had significantly more risk factors compared to CN patients (3.06 vs. 2.11, p<0.01). Patients who received TT alone had median OS of 5.8 months. All but one patient receiving TT alone had two or more risk factors. A comparison of the CN and TT groups was performed by constructing Kaplan-Meier curves. There was no significant difference in median OS for those patients with exactly two risk factors (447 vs. 389 days, p=0.24), and those with three or more risk factors (184 vs. 155 days, p=0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Using previously described pretreatment risk factors we found that patients with two or more risk factors derived no significant survival advantage from CN in the TT era. These risk factors should be incorporated in the assessment of patients for CN.

A novel preoperative inflammatory marker prognostic score in patients with localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Objective

Several inflammatory markers have been studied as potential biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), however few reports have analyzed their prognostic value in aggregate and in non-clear cell histologies. We hypothesize that a combination of specific inflammatory markers into an RCC Inflammatory Score (RISK) could serve as a rigorous prognostic indicator of overall survival (OS) in patients with clear cell and non-clear cell RCC.

Methods

Combination of preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), corrected calcium, and aspartate transaminase to alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) ratio was used to develop RISK. RISK was developed using grid-search methodology, receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis, and sensitivity-specificity trade-off analysis. Prognostic value of RISK was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional regression models. Predictive accuracy was compared with RISK to Size, Size, Grade, and Necrosis (SSIGN) score, University of California-LOS Angeles (UCLA) Integrated Staging System (UISS), and Leibovich Prognosis Score (LPS).

Results

Among 391 RCC patients treated with nephrectomy, area under the curve (AUC) for RISK was 0.783, which was comparable to SSIGN (AUC 0.776, p = 0.82) and UISS (AUC 0.809, p = 0.317). Among patients with localized disease, AUC for RISK and LPS was 0.742 and 0.706, respectively (p = 0.456). On multivariate analysis, we observed a step-wise statistically significant inverse relationship between increasing RISK group and OS (all p < 0.001).

Conclusion

RISK is an independent and significant predictor of OS for patients treated with nephrectomy for clear cell and non-clear cell RCC, with accuracy comparable to other histopathological prognostic tools.

A Three-Variable Model Predicts Short Survival in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background

Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) have variable survival outcomes. When discussing management approaches and providing information to patients and caregivers, it is important to have realistic perspectives, especially if the expected prognosis is very unfavorable. In the present study, factors predicting this endpoint were analyzed.

Methods

Data from 60 patients treated in routine clinical practice were evaluated. Unfavorable prognosis was defined as death within approximately 3 months from diagnosis of mRCC (maximum 3.5 months). Baseline factors including laboratory values and management approach were compared between the groups with short and longer survival.

Results

A total of 48 patients (80%) experienced ≥ 4 months survival (4+MS) and 10 (16.7%) experienced shorter survival (3MS). The others had short follow-up. Adverse prognostic factors that were significantly more frequent in the 3MS group were low hemoglobin, high lactate dehydrogenase and lack of systemic therapy. We used these three items to create a prognostic model: score 0 = no adverse factors, score 1 = one adverse factor, score 2 = two adverse factors, score 3 = three adverse factors. In the score 0 group, one out of 20 patients experienced 3MS (5%). In score 1, two out of 21 patients belonged to the 3MS group (9.5%). For score 2, the corresponding figure was four out of 14 patients (29%). In the score 3 group, three out of three patients experienced 3MS (100%) (P = 0.0001).

Conclusions

A simple model with three prognostic factors predicted survival of patients with newly diagnosed mRCC. Additional validation in other databases is warranted.

Molecular Subtypes Improve Prognostic Value of International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium Prognostic Model

INTRODUCTION

Gene-expression signatures for prognosis have been reported in localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim of this study was to test the predictive power of two different signatures, ClearCode34, a 34-gene signature model [Eur Urol 2014;66:77-84], and an 8-gene signature model [Eur Urol 2015;67:17-20], in the setting of systemic therapy for metastatic disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Metastatic RCC (mRCC) patients from five institutions who were part of TCGA were identified and clinical data were retrieved. We trained and implemented each gene model as described by the original study. The latter was demonstrated by faithful regeneration of a figure and results from the original study. mRCC patients were dichotomized to good or poor prognostic risk groups using each gene model. Cox proportional hazard regression and concordance index (C-Index) analysis were used to investigate an association between each prognostic risk model and overall survival (OS) from first-line therapy.

RESULTS

Overall, 54 patients were included in the final analysis. The primary endpoint was OS. Applying the ClearCode34 model, median survival for the low-risk-ccA (n = 17)-and the high-risk-ccB (n = 37)-subtypes were 27.6 and 22.3 months (hazard ratio (HR): 2.33; p = .039), respectively. ClearCode34 ccA/ccB and International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) classifications appear to represent distinct risk criteria in mRCC, and we observed no significant overlap in classification (p > .05, chi-square test). On multivariable analyses and adjusting for IMDC groups, ccB remained independently associated with a worse OS (p = .044); the joint model of ccA/ccB and IMDC was significantly more accurate in predicting OS than a model with IMDC alone (p = .045, F-test). This was also observed in C-Index analysis; a model with both ccA and ccB subtypes had higher accuracy (C-Index 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51-0.75) and 95% CIs of the C-Index that did not include the null value of 0.5 in contrast to a model with IMDC alone (0.60, CI = 0.47-0.72). The 8-gene signature molecular subtype model was a weak but insignificant predictor of survival in this cohort (p = .13). A model that included both the 8-gene signature and IMDC (C-Index 0.62, CI = 0.49-0.76) was more prognostic than IMDC alone but did not reach significance, as the 95% CI included the null value of 0.5. These two genomic signatures share no genes in common and are enriched in different biological pathways. The ClearCode34 included genes ARNT and EPAS1 (also known as HIF2a), which are involved in regulation of gene expression by hypoxia-inducible factor.

CONCLUSION

The ClearCode34 but not the 8-gene molecular model improved the prognostic predictive power of the IMDC model in this cohort of 54 patients with metastatic clear cell RCC. The Oncologist 2017;22:286-292 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The clinical and laboratory factors included in the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium model provide prognostic information in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The present study shows that genomic signatures, originally validated in localized RCC, may add further complementary prognostic information in the metastatic setting. This study may provide new insights into the molecular basis of certain mRCC subgroups. The integration of clinical and molecular data has the potential to redefine mRCC classification, enhance the understanding of mRCC biology, and potentially predict response to treatment in the future.

The independent oncological role for cytoreductive nephrectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Prognostic features in the era of targeted therapies

OBJECTIVES

To describe the effects of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) on the natural course of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). CN appears to stabilize metastatic lesions in mRCC in a subgroup of patients and we hypothesize that systemic treatment might be deferred in these patients with stable disease after CN.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Overall, 45 patients with mRCC who underwent CN and subsequent oncologic follow-up were included in this retrospective, single-center analysis. After CN, patients were followed at least every 3 months with clinical evaluation, contrast-enhanced computerized tomography scan of chest and abdomen, with additional imaging if needed. At 3 months, patients were radiographically evaluated and categorized into nonresponders (death or progression) or responders (stable disease or remission). Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression statistics were used to describe prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and systemic therapy-free survival (STFS).

RESULTS

Median OS was 31(3-121) months. Further, 24 (53.3%) and 21 (46.7%) patients were classified as responders and nonresponders at 3 months, respectively. Responders had a significant better 2-year OS compared with nonresponders (81.7% vs. 26.5%, P = 0.005). Responders also had a better 2-year STFS (40.3% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.005). On Cox regression analysis, worse OS was found to be associated with low preoperative hemoglobin levels, the absence of postoperative radiographical response, and the presence of non-clear cell pathology. The presence of postoperative radiographical response, normal preoperative lactate dehydrogenase levels, the presence of a single metastasis, and performing metastasis-directed therapy was found to be associated with a longer systemic therapy-free period.

CONCLUSION

A beneficial oncologic response is observed in approximately half of the patients undergoing CN. Absence of radiographic progression at 3 months is an important marker for OS and STFS. Therefore, systemic treatment might be postponed in selected patients.

The difficulty in selecting patients for cytoreductive nephrectomy: An evaluation of previously described predictive models

PURPOSE

To externally evaluate a preoperative points system and a preoperative nomogram, both created to assess time to death after cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified 298 patients who underwent CN at our institution, a tertiary cancer center, between 1989 and 2015. To validate the points system, we compared reported overall survival (OS) for each criterion to observed OS in our cohort. To evaluate the nomogram, we prognosticated risk of death at 6 months after surgery for 280 patients with sufficient follow-up in our cohort and evaluated discrimination using area under the curve (AUC) and calibration. Decision curve analysis was performed to assess clinical utility of the nomogram.

RESULTS

Significant differences in OS were observed between patients with and without 5 of 7 criteria on univariate analysis: low albumin (P<0.0001), high lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.002), liver metastasis (P = 0.004), retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (P = 0.002), and supradiaphragmatic lymphadenopathy (P = 0.019). Discrimination from the preoperative model, predicting death within 6 months of surgery was lower in our cohort (AUC = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.52-0.79) than the original publication (AUC = 0.76). Decision curve analysis demonstrated little benefit for applicability.

CONCLUSIONS

Five previously defined risk factors are predictive of decreased OS after CN in our cohort. We found lower discrimination using the preoperative model and minimal clinical utility according to decision analysis in our study cohort. These findings suggest the need for improved models to aid patient stratification and consequent treatment choice.

The Expression of Fibroblast Activation Protein in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinomas Is Associated with Synchronous Lymph Node Metastases

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) is a heterogeneous and complex disease that frequently develops distant metastases. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a serine peptidase the expression of which in cancer-associated fibroblasts has been associated with higher risk of metastases and poor survival. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of FAP in metastatic CCRCC (mCCRCC). A series of 59 mCCRCC retrospectively collected was included in the study. Metastases developed either synchronous (n = 14) or metachronous to renal disease (n = 45). Tumor specimens were obtained from both primary lesion (n = 59) and metastases (n = 54) and FAP expression was immunohistochemically analyzed. FAP expression in fibroblasts from primary tumors correlated with FAP expression in the corresponding metastatic lesions. Also, primary and metastatic FAP expression was correlated with large tumor diameter (>7cm), high grade (G3/4), high stage (pT3/4), tumor necrosis and sarcomatoid transformation. The expression of FAP in primary tumors and in their metastases was associated both with synchronous metastases and also with metastases to the lymph nodes. FAP expression in the primary tumor was correlated with worse 10-year overall survival. Immunohistochemical detection of FAP in the stromal tumor fibroblasts could be a biomarker of early lymph node metastatic status and therefore could account for the poor prognosis of FAP positive CCRCC.

Impact of metastasectomy on prognosis in patients treated with targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

We evaluated the value of metastasectomy in patients treated with targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

METHODS

The medical records of 325 patients who presented with mRCC were reviewed; among these patients, 33 underwent complete metastasectomy followed by targeted therapy (complete metastasectomy group), 29 underwent incomplete metastasectomy followed by targeted therapy (incomplete metastasectomy group), and 263 treated with targeted therapy alone (non-metastasectomy group). We estimated progression-free and overall survivals using Kaplan-Meier curves. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the prognostic significance of metastasectomy.

RESULTS

Clinicopathological variables did not differ among the three groups except for age, history of nephrectomy, type of metastasis, the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium risk groups, histology, and bone metastasis. The median progression-free survivals were 29.5, 18.8, and 14.8 months in the complete, incomplete, and non-metastasectomy groups (p < 0.001). Complete metastasectomy (hazard ratio 0.431, p = 0.001) was an independent predictor of disease progression, along with targeted agents, risk groups, sarcomatoid feature, and number of metastatic sites. The median overall survivals were 92.5, 29.6, and 23.5 months in the complete, incomplete, and non-metastasectomy groups (p < 0.001). Complete metastasectomy (hazard ratio 0.378, p = 0.001) was an independent predictor of overall survival, along with targeted agents, type of metastasis, risk groups, sarcomatoid feature, and number of metastatic sites.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete metastasectomy performed before targeted therapy might improve progression-free and overall survivals in patients with mRCC.

Prognostic implications of sarcomatoid and rhabdoid differentiation in patients with grade 4 renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Sarcomatoid and rhabdoid differentiation are associated with poor outcomes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We examined the impact of differentiation on cancer-specific survival (CSS) in surgically treated patients with grade 4 RCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using our institutional database of 1176 nephrectomies from 2005 to 2013, we identified patients with grade 4 RCC or any grade and the presence of sarcomatoid or rhabdoid differentiation. We divided the cohort based on differentiation: no differentiation, rhabdoid only, sarcomatoid only, and sarcomatoid and rhabdoid. CSS was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling.

RESULTS

Of 264 patients with grade 4 RCC, 159 (60.2 %) exhibited differentiation, including 45 (28.3 %) with rhabdoid only, 87 (54.7 %) with sarcomatoid only, and 27 (16.9 %) with rhabdoid and sarcomatoid. Sarcomatoid differentiation, either alone or with rhabdoid differentiation, was associated with worse median CSS than no differentiation (1.1 vs. 3.3 years, p < 0.01, and 0.9 vs. 3.3 years, p < 0.01, respectively). In patients with non-metastatic (HR 1.95, 95 % CI 1.19-3.19, p = 0.008) and metastatic (HR 2.22, 95 % CI 1.45-3.41, p < 0.001) RCC, sarcomatoid differentiation was associated with an increased risk of cancer-specific death. On multivariable analysis, sarcomatoid differentiation was an independent predictor of RCC death in patients with non-metastatic (HR 1.72, 95 % CI 1.04-2.84, p = 0.03) and metastatic (HR 1.74, 95 % CI 1.05-2.90, p = 0.03) disease. Rhabdoid differentiation alone was not associated with worse CSS (p = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

In grade 4 RCC, sarcomatoid differentiation is associated with increased mortality risk across all stages of disease. Rhabdoid differentiation is not associated with additional mortality risk.

Adjuvant sunitinib or sorafenib for high-risk, non-metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (ECOG-ACRIN E2805): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

Renal-cell carcinoma is highly vascular, and proliferates primarily through dysregulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. We tested sunitinib and sorafenib, two oral anti-angiogenic agents that are effective in advanced renal-cell carcinoma, in patients with resected local disease at high risk for recurrence.

METHODS

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 trial, we enrolled patients at 226 study centres in the USA and Canada. Eligible patients had pathological stage high-grade T1b or greater with completely resected non-metastatic renal-cell carcinoma and adequate cardiac, renal, and hepatic function. Patients were stratified by recurrence risk, histology, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and surgical approach, and computerised double-blind randomisation was done centrally with permuted blocks. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive 54 weeks of sunitinib 50 mg per day orally throughout the first 4 weeks of each 6 week cycle, sorafenib 400 mg twice per day orally throughout each cycle, or placebo. Placebo could be sunitinib placebo given continuously for 4 weeks of every 6 week cycle or sorafenib placebo given twice per day throughout the study. The primary objective was to compare disease-free survival between each experimental group and placebo in the intention-to-treat population. All treated patients with at least one follow-up assessment were included in the safety analysis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00326898.

FINDINGS

Between April 24, 2006, and Sept 1, 2010, 1943 patients from the National Clinical Trials Network were randomly assigned to sunitinib (n=647), sorafenib (n=649), or placebo (n=647). Following high rates of toxicity-related discontinuation after 1323 patients had enrolled (treatment discontinued by 193 [44%] of 438 patients on sunitinib, 199 [45%] of 441 patients on sorafenib), the starting dose of each drug was reduced and then individually titrated up to the original full doses. On Oct 16, 2014, because of low conditional power for the primary endpoint, the ECOG-ACRIN Data Safety Monitoring Committee recommended that blinded follow-up cease and the results be released. The primary analysis showed no significant differences in disease-free survival. Median disease-free survival was 5·8 years (IQR 1·6-8·2) for sunitinib (hazard ratio [HR] 1·02, 97·5% CI 0·85-1·23, p=0·8038), 6·1 years (IQR 1·7-not estimable [NE]) for sorafenib (HR 0·97, 97·5% CI 0·80-1·17, p=0·7184), and 6·6 years (IQR 1·5-NE) for placebo. The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were hypertension (105 [17%] patients on sunitinib and 102 [16%] patients on sorafenib), hand-foot syndrome (94 [15%] patients on sunitinib and 208 [33%] patients on sorafenib), rash (15 [2%] patients on sunitinib and 95 [15%] patients on sorafenib), and fatigue 110 [18%] patients on sunitinib [corrected]. There were five deaths related to treatment or occurring within 30 days of the end of treatment; one patient receiving sorafenib died from infectious colitis while on treatment and four patients receiving sunitinib died, with one death due to each of neurological sequelae, sequelae of gastric perforation, pulmonary embolus, and disease progression. Revised dosing still resulted in high toxicity.

INTERPRETATION

Adjuvant treatment with the VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib or sunitinib showed no survival benefit relative to placebo in a definitive phase 3 study. Furthermore, substantial treatment discontinuation occurred because of excessive toxicity, despite dose reductions. These results provide a strong rationale against the use of these drugs for high-risk kidney cancer in the adjuvant setting and suggest that the biology of cancer recurrence might be independent of angiogenesis.

FUNDING

US National Cancer Institute and ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, Pfizer, and Bayer.