Patient selection for cytoreductive nephrectomy in combination with targeted therapies or immune checkpoint inhibitors

Can Cytoreductive Nephrectomy Improve Outcomes of Nivolumab Treatment in Patients with Metastatic Clear-Cell Renal Carcinoma?

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) on the survival outcomes of nivolumab used as a subsequent therapy after the failure of at least one anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent in patients with metastatic clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods: We included 106 de novo metastatic ccRCC patients who received nivolumab after progression on at least one anti-VEGF agent. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors affecting survival in patients receiving nivolumab. Results: Of the 106 de novo metastatic ccRCC patients, 83 (78.3%) underwent CN. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, tumor size, International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) risk group, number of previous treatment lines, first-line anti-VEGF therapy, or metastasis sites (p = 0.137, p = 0.608, p = 0.100, p = 0.376, p = 0.185, p = 0.776, p = 0.350, and p = 0.608, respectively). The patients who received nivolumab with CN had a longer time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) [14.5 months, 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.6-20.3] than did those without CN 6.7 months (95% CI: 3.9-9.5) (p = 0.001). The median overall survival (OS) was 22.7 months (95% CI: 16.1-29.4). The patients with CN had a median OS of 22.9 months (95% CI: 16.3-29.4), while those without CN had a median OS of 8.1 months (95% CI: 5.6-10.5) (p = 0.104). In the multivariate analysis, CN [hazard ratio (HR): 0.521; 95% CI: 0.297-0.916; p = 0.024] and the IMDC risk score (p = 0.011) were statistically significant factors affecting TTD; however, the IMDC risk score (p = 0.006) was the only significant factor for overall survival. Conclusions: Our study showed that the TTD of nivolumab was longer in metastatic ccRCC patients who underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy.

Upfront versus deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy following targeted or immunotherapy: a population-based propensity score-matched analysis of perioperative complications

PURPOSE

To evaluate the incidence of postoperative complications after cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) following first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), and to compare it with postoperative complications of upfront CN.

METHODS

For this population-based retrospective study, the PearlDiver Mariner database (PearlDiver Technologies, Colorado Springs, CO), a database of insurance billing records was analyzed. Using relevant ICD-9/10 and CPT codes, patients diagnosed with mRCC between 2011 and 2021, who received first-line systemic molecular therapy (SMT), either tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) or immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), were identified. The selected population was stratified into two cohorts according to the timing of CN (deferred: after SMT vs. upfront: before SMT). Propensity-score matching (PSM) was performed as per baseline patients' characteristics to control for potential confounders between the two cohorts. The primary outcome was to compare 30-day postoperative complications rate between patients undergoing upfront vs. deferred CN.

RESULTS

After PSM, 162 patients who received upfront CN were compared with 162 patients who underwent deferred CN. The overall rate of 30-day postoperative complications was statistically significantly higher in patients undergoing deferred CN (33.9%), compared to patients treated with upfront CN (21%, p < 0.01). In addition, the rate of both medical (26.5% vs. 14.2%, p < 0.01) and surgical (14.8 vs. 7.4%, p = 0.03) complication rate was statistically significantly higher in deferred vs. upfront CN. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that none of the treatment regimens significantly predicted the occurrence of postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing deferred CN experience a higher rates of overall, medical, and surgical 30-day postoperative complications compared to those receiving upfront surgery. Findings from this study should be interpreted within the limitations of this type of analysis.

Contemporary Patients Have Better Perioperative Outcomes Following Cytoreductive Nephrectomy: A Multi-institutional Analysis of 1272 Consecutive Patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate factors associated with perioperative outcomes in a multi-institutional cohort of patients treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN).

METHODS

Data were analyzed for metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with CN at 6 tertiary academic centers from 2005 to 2019. Outcomes included: Clavien-Dindo complications, mortality, length of hospitalization, 30-day readmission rate, and time to systemic therapy. Univariate and multivariable models evaluated associations between outcomes and prognostic variables including the year of surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 1272 consecutive patients were treated with CN. Patients treated in 2015-2019 vs 2005-2009 had better performance status (P<.001), higher pathologic N stage (P = .04), more frequent lymph node dissections (P<.001), and less frequent presurgical therapy (P = .02). Patients treated in 2015-2019 vs 2005-2009 had lower overall and major complications from surgery, 22% vs 39%, P<.001% and 10% vs 16%, P = .03. Mortality at 90days was higher for patients treated 2005-2009 vs 2015-2019; 10% vs 5%, P = .02. After multivariable analysis, surgical time period was an independent predictor of major complications and 90-day mortality following cytoreductive surgery.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative major complications and mortality rates following CN are significantly lower in patients treated within the most recent time period.

Spontaneous regression of multiple pulmonary metastases accompanied by normalization of serum immune markers following cytoreductive nephrectomy in a patient with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

The spontaneous regression of metastases, which mostly occurs after surgical resection of the primary tumor, has been described in various malignancies, including renal cell carcinoma. The involvement of the host immune system is currently postulated as the underlying mechanism.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma that achieved complete spontaneous regression of multiple pulmonary metastases preceded by normalization of serum immune markers after cytoreductive nephrectomy. The patient remained disease free for 3 years without any systemic therapy, suggesting that postoperative normalization of serum immune markers may indicate recovery of the host immune system, which prevents tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Monitoring of serum immune markers may be useful to identify patients with recovered immune function and, therefore, may not require systemic therapy. Similarly, the case suggests a potential role of cytoreductive nephrectomy in the contemporary management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Cytoreductive nephrectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, the ultimate urologic 'Choosing Wisely' campaign: a narrative review

In the early 2000s, cytoreductive nephrectomy in addition to systemic cytokines became standard of care for treating metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Since that time, the development of novel systemic targeted therapies and immuno-oncologic agents have challenged the utility of cytoreductive nephrectomy in clinical practice. In 2019, the controversial CARMENA study was published, providing the first level one evidence suggesting that cytoreductive nephrectomy combined with targeted therapy yielded no survival advantage over targeted therapy alone in intermediate and poor risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients. Later that year, the SURTIME trial demonstrated that patients undergoing targeted therapy with delayed nephrectomy maintained a survival advantage over those that underwent upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy followed by targeted therapy. Both of these studies underscored the importance of patient selection and timing of cytoreductive nephrectomy and systemic therapy. As new immuno-oncologic agents are trialed, particularly in combination, the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy will continue to be questioned. In this narrative review, we discuss the evolution of the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy in treating metastatic renal cell carcinoma through the context of the ever-changing landscape of targeted therapies and immuno-oncologic agents. We assess the evidence for cytoreductive nephrectomy with respect to patient factors, timing of surgery, and combination with other therapies.

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

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

Redefining the Role of Surgical Management of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The treatment landscape for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) continues to evolve with ongoing advancements in systemic therapy, raising further questions about the optimal role of surgery in the management of mRCC. Herein, we provide a context and review of the recent evidence concerning the role of surgical therapy for patients with mRCC including cytoreductive nephrectomy and distant metastatectomy.

RECENT FINDINGS

One randomized trial has been published in the targeted therapy era suggesting that initial systemic therapy is non-inferior to cytoreductive nephrectomy among patients with intermediate and poor-risk mRCC. Delaying cytoreductive nephrectomy until after systemic therapy may be a viable treatment approach, although a high level of evidence is lacking. Additional questions remain regarding the sequence of surgery with systemic therapy, utility of distant metastatectomy, as well as the application of these findings to the current generation of immunotherapy. Recent evidence challenges the need of upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy for unselected patients with mRCC. However, surgical therapy continues to play an important role in the management of the disease.