Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients With Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma

The evolving management of small renal masses

Small renal masses (SRMs) are a heterogeneous group of tumours with varying metastatic potential. The increasing use and improving quality of abdominal imaging have led to increasingly early diagnosis of incidental SRMs that are asymptomatic and organ confined. Despite improvements in imaging and the growing use of renal mass biopsy, diagnosis of malignancy before treatment remains challenging. Management of SRMs has shifted away from radical nephrectomy, with active surveillance and nephron-sparing surgery taking over as the primary modalities of treatment. The optimal treatment strategy for SRMs continues to evolve as factors affecting short-term and long-term outcomes in this patient cohort are elucidated through studies from prospective data registries. Evidence from rapidly evolving research in biomarkers, imaging modalities, and machine learning shows promise in improving understanding of the biology and management of this patient cohort.

The relationship between fear of cancer recurrence and posttraumatic growth: a meta-analysis

Background

Theoretically, stress is positively correlated with posttraumatic growth (PTG). However, evidence for a correlation between fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), a cancer-specific stressor, and PTG is mixed. The present study aimed to systematically investigate the overall effect size between the two and to explore moderators that may influence this relationship.

Methods

From the earliest available date to October 2023, a comprehensive search was conducted in seven databases. Correlation coefficients (r) were calculated using Stata software. Publication type, continent, trauma role, gender, FCR measurements, PTG measurements, sample size, age, and time since diagnosis were used to examine moderating effects. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) assessment tool was used to evaluate study quality.

Results

A total of 14 studies, involving 17 samples and 3,701 participants, were included. The studies found a small association between FCR and PTG (r = 0.161, 95% CI: 0.070-0.249, p < 0.01) and large heterogeneity (I2  = 85.5%). The strength of the association varied according to the publication type and FCR measurement.

Conclusion

The current review suggests a small but significant positive correlation between FCR and PTG. Future studies would benefit from exploring additional moderators and the use of standardized, validated FCR measurement tools.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023460407.

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of iConquerFear: a self-guided digital intervention for fear of cancer recurrence

PURPOSE

Approximately 50% of cancer survivors experience moderate-severe fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Self-guided digital interventions have potential to address the high level of FCR-related unmet needs at scale, but existing digital interventions have demonstrated variable engagement and efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of iConquerFear, a five-module self-guided digital FCR intervention.

METHODS

Eligible curatively treated breast cancer survivors were recruited. Participants reporting clinically significant FCR (≥ 13 on the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form; FCRI-SF) were given access to iConquerFear. Feasibility was indicated by > 50% of eligible participants enrolling in iConquerFear and recording moderate (≥ 120 min) or greater usage. Preliminary efficacy was evaluated via changes in self-reported FCR severity, anxiety, depression, intrusions and metacognitions from baseline to immediately and 3 months post-intervention.

RESULTS

Fifty-four (83%) of 65 eligible participants enrolled in iConquerFear; six subsequently withdrew. Thirty-nine (83%) participants recorded moderate (n = 24; 120-599 min) or high (n = 15; ≥ 600 min) usage. Engagement levels increased with participant age (p = 0.043), but were lower in participants with higher baseline FCR (p = 0.028). Qualitative feedback indicated engagement was sometimes limited by difficulties with navigation and relating to featured survivors. Participants reported significantly improved FCR (mean reduction (95%CI): baseline to post-intervention - 3.44 (- 5.18, - 1.71), baseline to 3-month follow-up - 4.52 (- 6.25, - 2.78), p =  < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

iConquerFear is a feasible and potentially efficacious intervention for reducing FCR in breast cancer survivors. Easier navigation and more relatable examples may enhance engagement.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

iConquerFear may help address moderate but burdensome FCR levels in cancer survivors.

Patient experience of follow-up after surgery for kidney cancer: a focus group study

OBJECTIVE

To explore patient experience of follow-up care after kidney cancer surgery and to develop recommendations for best practice.

METHODS

We conducted two focus groups, including 14 participants with experience of kidney cancer follow-up after surgery, to elicit patient views on current follow-up care. Thematic analysis was used to identify unifying themes to describe the patient experience of follow-up, and the results were then used to develop a set of recommendations for best practice.

RESULTS

We identified six themes (feelings of abandonment; uncertainty about the plan; anxiety about appointments; variation in care; a need for information; and a need for emotional support) that described current patient experience and areas in which current care could be improved. In particular, while most of the participants felt that their physical needs had been met, many had struggled with unmet emotional needs and a lack of information and resources. This was especially noted in the period immediately following surgery, when feelings of abandonment were common, and around follow-up scans and routine appointments, which were a source of anxiety. Our participants also described concerns about the lack of consistency between different hospitals and centres around the United Kingdom, with differences in the content and quality of follow-up care. Based on the results, we developed a list of recommendations to address some of the challenges described through relatively minor changes to the care pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified gaps and variability in current follow-up care after kidney cancer surgery, and have developed a set of recommendations that, if implemented, would improve the follow-up care experience for these patients.

Transcriptomic recurrence score improves recurrence prediction for surgically treated patients with intermediate-risk clear cell kidney cancer

BACKGROUND

Risk stratification of kidney cancer patients after nephrectomy may tailor surveillance intensity and selection for adjuvant therapy. Transcriptomic approaches are effective in predicting recurrence, but whether they add value to clinicopathologic models remains unclear.

METHODS

Data from patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Clinicopathologic variables were used to calculate SSIGN (stage, size, grade, and necrosis) scores. The 16 gene recurrence score (RS) signature was generated using RNA-seq data. Transcriptomic risk groups were calculated using the original thresholds. SSIGN groups were divided into low, intermediate, and high risk. Disease-free status was the primary endpoint assessed.

RESULTS

SSIGN and RS were calculated for 428 patients with non-metastatic ccRCC. SSIGN low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups demonstrated 2.7%, 15.2%, and 27.5%, 3-year recurrence risk, respectively. On multivariable analysis, the RS was associated with disease-free status (sub-distribution hazard ratio (sHR) 1.43 per 25 RS [95% CI (1.00-1.43)], p = 0.05). By risk groups, RS further risk stratified the SSIGN intermediate-risk group (sHR 2.22 [95% CI 1.10-4.50], p = 0.03). SSIGN intermediate-risk patients with low and high RS had a 3-year recurrence rate of 8.0% and 25.2%, respectively. Within this risk group, the area under the curve (AUC) at 3 years was 0.69 for SSIGN, 0.74 for RS, and 0.78 for their combination.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcriptomic recurrence scores improve risk prediction even when controlling for clinicopathologic factors. Utility may be best suited for intermediate-risk patients who have heterogeneous outcomes and further refinement for clinical utility is warranted.

A Causal Framework for Making Individualized Treatment Decisions in Oncology

Simple Summary

Physicians routinely make individualized treatment decisions by accounting for the joint effects of patient prognostic covariates and treatments on clinical outcomes. Ideally, this is performed using historical randomized clinical trial (RCT) data. Randomization ensures that unbiased estimates of causal treatment effect parameters can be obtained from the historical RCT data and used to predict each new patient’s outcome based on the joint effect of their baseline covariates and each treatment being considered. However, this process becomes problematic if a patient seen in the clinic is very different from the patients who were enrolled in the RCT. That is, if a new patient does not satisfy the entry criteria of the RCT, then the patient does not belong to the population represented by the patients who were studied in the RCT. In such settings, it still may be possible to utilize the RCT data to help choose a new patient’s treatment. This may be achieved by combining the RCT data with data from other clinical trials, or possibly preclinical experiments, and using the combined dataset to predict the patient’s expected outcome for each treatment being considered. In such settings, combining data from multiple sources in a way that is statistically reliable is not entirely straightforward, and correctly identifying and estimating the effects of treatments and patient covariates on clinical outcomes can be complex. Causal diagrams provide a rational basis to guide this process. The first step is to construct a causal diagram that reflects the plausible relationships between treatment variables, patient covariates, and clinical outcomes. If the diagram is correct, it can be used to determine what additional data may be needed, how to combine data from multiple sources, how to formulate a statistical model for clinical outcomes as a function of treatment and covariates, and how to compute an unbiased treatment effect estimate for each new patient. We use adjuvant therapy of renal cell carcinoma to illustrate how causal diagrams may be used to guide these steps.

Abstract

We discuss how causal diagrams can be used by clinicians to make better individualized treatment decisions. Causal diagrams can distinguish between settings where clinical decisions can rely on a conventional additive regression model fit to data from a historical randomized clinical trial (RCT) to estimate treatment effects and settings where a different approach is needed. This may be because a new patient does not meet the RCT’s entry criteria, or a treatment’s effect is modified by biomarkers or other variables that act as mediators between treatment and outcome. In some settings, the problem can be addressed simply by including treatment–covariate interaction terms in the statistical regression model used to analyze the RCT dataset. However, if the RCT entry criteria exclude a new patient seen in the clinic, it may be necessary to combine the RCT data with external data from other RCTs, single-arm trials, or preclinical experiments evaluating biological treatment effects. For example, external data may show that treatment effects differ between histological subgroups not recorded in an RCT. A causal diagram may be used to decide whether external observational or experimental data should be obtained and combined with RCT data to compute statistical estimates for making individualized treatment decisions. We use adjuvant treatment of renal cell carcinoma as our motivating example to illustrate how to construct causal diagrams and apply them to guide clinical decisions.

Fear of cancer recurrence in patients with non-metastatic melanoma: Spanish validation and disease-related factors

INTRODUCTION

It is essential for clinicians to understand the phenomenon of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in order to understand the psychological impact it has on patients with melanoma.

OBJECTIVES

To validate an FCR questionnaire in Spanish for patients with non-metastatic melanoma and to describe the clinical and demographic variables associated with FCR in these patients.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with non-metastatic melanoma were selected. The questionnaire was translated and adapted to Spanish following international guidelines. The internal consistency, construct validity, and temporal stability of the questionnaire were analysed using Cronbach's alpha, confirmatory factor analysis, and test-retest reliability, respectively. Following this, the correlation between FCR scores and the study variables was evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 123 patients were included in the study. The translated and adapted questionnaire showed high reliability (overall Cronbach's alpha 0.834), temporal stability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.8), and unidimensionality. The mean FCR score was 16.1 ± 6.7. The highest FCR scores were observed in women and young patients (p < 0.01). Patients with a personal history of cancer, facial melanoma, or skin graft reconstruction also obtained a high FCR score (p < 0.05). No differences were found between FCR and other tumour characteristics, such as the Breslow index or the time since diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This validated questionnaire is suitable for evaluating FCR. We also identified factors that tend to increase FCR scores, thus allowing clinicians to identify patients at risk and start preventive measures.

Pan-cancer analysis of fear of cancer recurrence among cancer survivors

Background

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a phenomenon estimated to affect a large portion of cancer survivors. This study sought to determine whether patients from a National Cancer Institute-designated institution had their clinical needs met relating to FCR.

Patients and methods

Patients referred to the survivorship clinic completed The Clinical Needs Assessment Tool for Cancer Survivors (CNAT-CS). Correlations between responses were calculated and univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of met or unmet needs related to FCR.

Results

Of 647 patients, 241 (37.2%) reported they did not have clinical needs related to FCR and 386 (59.7%) reported they had clinical needs related to FCR but that the needs had been met. Only 20 (3.09%) reported that clinical needs relating to FCR were unmet. According to univariate logistic regression, sex had no impact on FCR (P = 0.8427), nor did years since diagnosis (P = 0.1014). Results of multivariable regression indicate that the odds ratio of reported FCR as an unmet need (versus not a need) is 0.939; the odds decreased by 6% (P = 0.0023) for every year increase in age. For each unit increase in distress score, the odds of reporting FCR as an unmet need increased by 32% (P = 0.0007).

Conclusions

This study is unique in not only examining the presence of FCR but also whether patients reported that their needs were met for FCR. The study found that most patients had clinical needs for FCR, but the needs were met at the time of the survey. Patients who report higher distress scores are more likely to report FCR as an unmet need. Therefore, cancer survivors reporting high distress scores in clinic visits should be evaluated for FCR.

•

FCR is common among cancer survivors; it can be seen as a met or unmet need by each patient.

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Identifying factors that influence fear of cancer recurrence as a need met or not include age and distress score.

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Recognizing FCR as an unmet need is paramount to develop clinics and mitigation strategies to ameliorate this need.

Fear of Cancer Recurrence or Progression: What Is It and What Can We Do About It?

Patients with cancer face a trajectory marked by emotional and physical distress that can be associated with both diagnosis and treatment. Fear of cancer recurrence or progression has been considered one of the most common unmet needs reported by patients diagnosed with both localized and metastatic disease. Fear of cancer recurrence or progression has been defined as the "fear, worry, or concern relating to the possibility that cancer will come back or progress." Often overlooked by health care teams, fear of cancer recurrence or progression has been associated with impaired quality of life and psychosocial adjustment, elevated emotional distress, and a range of physical symptoms. Several interventions for fear of cancer recurrence or progression are currently under investigation. Early recognition, support, and validation of feelings associated with fear of cancer recurrence or progression, and appropriate referrals to psychosocial oncology, can be beneficial for many patients. Assessing patients early in their cancer trajectory, and at important milestones, including a change in therapies, at the end of active treatment, and during follow-up visits, can help identify individuals at risk and help individuals engage in supportive programs.

Socio-economic burden of disease: Survivorship costs for renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to assess the risk-stratified 10-year socio-economic burden of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) follow-up costs after initial treatment in Germany from 2000 to 2020.

METHODS

A micro-costing method considering direct and indirect medical expenditure associated with follow-up procedures was employed to calculate survivorship costs per patient. The frequencies of physician-patient visits, examinations and diagnostic tests were extracted from guidelines, whilst expenses were sourced from literature and official scales of tariffs. Societal costs were calculated based on three perspectives: patients, providers and insurers.

RESULTS

Mean societal 10-year follow-up costs per patient amounted to EUR 3,377 (95%CI: 2,969-3,791) for low-risk, EUR 3,367 (95%CI: 3,003-3,692) for medium-risk and EUR 4,299 (95%CI: 3,807-4,755) for high-risk RCC in 2020. Spending increased by +32% from 2000 to 2020 for low-risk RCC, whilst medium-and high-risk RCC expenditure was cut by -39% and -22%, respectively. Patients shouldered 27%, providers 43% and insurers 35% of costs in 2020. Resources were consumed by medical imaging (52%), physician-patient consultations (31%), travel expenses (17%) and blood tests (1%).

CONCLUSION

Results highlight the economic burden cancer survivorship poses for society. Cancer survivors require individualised, evidence-based and insurance-covered follow-up schedules to permit the early detection of side-effects, metastasis and secondary malignancies.

Patient-reported Experience of Diagnosis, Management, and Burden of Renal Cell Carcinomas: Results from a Global Patient Survey in 43 Countries

The International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) is a federation of 46 affiliated patient organisations representing 1.2 million patients worldwide that is committed to reducing the global burden of kidney cancer. A large-scale global survey of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to capture real-world experiences has never been undertaken. The 35-question survey was designed to identify geographic variations in patient education, experience, awareness, access to care, best practices, quality of life, and unmet psychosocial needs. A total of 1983 responses were recorded from 43 countries in 14 languages. Analysis revealed key findings. (1) At diagnosis, 43% of all respondents had no understanding of their RCC subtype. (2) Shared decision-making remains aspirational: globally, 29% of all patients reported no involvement in their treatment decision, responding “My doctor decided for me”. (3) While 96% of respondents reported psychosocial impacts, surprisingly, only 50% disclosed them to their health care team. (4) Lastly, 70% of patients were not asked to participate in a clinical trial, although 90% indicated they would be interested. The survey reflects patient perspectives from diverse clinical scenarios in which different treatment options are available. The data point to actionable deficits in the fields of clinical trials, psychosocial support, and shared decision-making.

Patient summary

In this brief report, we highlight the key results from the first large-scale global survey of patients with kidney cancer to capture real-world experiences. This survey reflects patient perspectives from diverse clinical scenarios in which different treatment options are available. We conclude that there is a need for improvement in the fields of clinical trials, psychosocial support, and shared decision-making.

Adjuvant Systemic Therapies for Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma: Choosing Treatment Based on Patient-level Characteristics

Motivated by recent presentation of the KEYNOTE-564 interim results for adjuvant pembrolizumab in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, we discuss concepts that can guide patient-specific decision-making in selecting individuals for whom adjuvant therapies should be offered.

Sex and Gender Differences in Kidney Cancer: Clinical and Experimental Evidence

Simple Summary

Kidney cancer is a frequent malignant tumor that accounts for approximately 5% of all cancer incidences. It affects both males and females, but males are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer than females. Evidence shows that this discrepancy takes root in individual differences, such as genetics or pathologies that affect the patient. It is then reflected in the clinical characteristics of the tumors, as males have larger and more aggressive tumors. Understanding the sex- and gender-based differences in kidney cancer is essential to be able to offer patients individualized medicine that would better cover their needs in terms of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract

Sex and gender disparities have been reported for different types of non-reproductive cancers. Males are two times more likely to develop kidney cancer than females and have a higher death rate. These differences can be explained by looking at genetics and genomics, as well as other risk factors such as hypertension and obesity, lifestyle, and female sex hormones. Examination of the hormonal signaling pathways bring further insights into sex-related differences. Sex and gender-based disparities can be observed at the diagnostic, histological and treatment levels, leading to significant outcome difference. This review summarizes the current knowledge about sex and gender-related differences in the clinical presentation of patients with kidney cancer and the possible biological mechanisms that could explain these observations. Underlying sex-based differences may contribute to the development of sex-specific prognostic and diagnostic tools and the improvement of personalized therapies.