Selection of Optimal Candidates for Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in Patients with Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Predictive Model Based on SEER Database

Prognostic Significance of Pathologic Lymph Node Invasion in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Immunotherapy Era

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to test the prognostic significance of pathologically confirmed lymph node invasion in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients in this immunotherapy era.

METHODS

Surgically treated mRCC patients were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2018. Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox-regression models were fitted to test for differences in cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and overall mortality (OM) according to N stage (pN0 vs pN1 vs. pNx). Subgroup analyses addressing pN1 patients tested for CSM and OM differences according to postoperative systemic therapy status.

RESULTS

Overall, 3149 surgically treated mRCC patients were identified. Of these patients, 443 (14%) were labeled as pN1, 812 (26%) as pN0, and 1894 (60%) as pNx. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, the median CSM-free survival was 15 months for pN1 versus 40 months for pN0 versus 35 months for pNx (P < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analyses, pN1 independently predicted higher CSM (hazard ratio [HR], 1.88; P < 0.01) and OM (HR, 1.95; P < 0.01) relative to pN0. In sensitivity analyses addressing pN1 patients, postoperative systemic therapy use independently predicted lower CSM (HR, 0.73; P < 0.01) and OM (HR, 0.71; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Pathologically confirmed lymph node invasion independently predicted higher CSM and OM for surgically treated mRCC patients. For pN1 mRCC patients, use of postoperative systemic therapy was associated with lower CSM and OM. Consequently, N stage should be considered for individual patient counseling and clinical decision-making. Consort diagram of the study population.

Primary tumor resection improves survival benefit of stage IVB cervical carcinoma: a new perspective

PURPOSE

Recent studies have revealed that primary tumor resection (PTR) surgery could improve prognosis in some solid tumors. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether patients with stage IVB cervical carcinoma can benefit from PTR surgery and who can benefit.

METHODS

We extracted and obtained data on patients with stage IVB cervical carcinoma from the SEER database from 2010 to 2017 and classified them into two groups: the surgery and the non-surgery group. The overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of the two groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM). The independent prognostic variables were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Then, the model was established to select the optimal patients to receive PTR surgery using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

After PSM, the study included 476 cervical carcinoma (stage IVB) patients, of whom 238 underwent PTR surgery. Compared to the non-surgery group, the surgery group's median OS and median CSS were both longer (median OS: 27 months vs. 13 months, P < 0.001; median CSS: 52 months vs. 21 months, P < 0.001). The model showed no organ metastasis, adenocarcinoma, G1/2, and chemotherapy were more supportive of performing PTR surgery. The calibration curves and DCA showed that the model had high predictive accuracy and excellent clinical applicability. Finally, the "surgery benefit" group had the OS that was approximately four times better than "surgery non-benefit" group.

CONCLUSION

PTR surgery can potentially improve the prognosis of patients with cervical carcinoma at stage IVB. The model could probably select optimal candidates and provide a new perspective on individualized treatment.

Cytoreductive nephrectomy in the age of immunotherapy-based combination treatment

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) displays a wide spectrum of oncological prognosis and clinical behavior, and is noted for its generally poor outcome in metastatic settings. However, the introduction of immunotherapy after the cytokine era has changed the landscape of treatment for metastatic RCC, outperforming previous targeted therapy and providing new hope for patients with advanced disease. Cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) has been the center of controversy, with questionable survival benefit when compared to systemic therapy. Despite discouraging results from the two randomized clinical trials (CARMENA & SURTIME), interest into the role of CN is being rekindled, and contemporary real-world studies provide supporting evidence to suggest that CN may still have a role in well-selected patients treated or expecting treatment with immunotherapy, not only for symptomatic control but also for oncological benefit. In this review article, we attempt to review the modern insight into the role of CN for metastatic RCC in contemporary medicine, with a focus on treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitor combination-based immunotherapy.

Cytoreductive Nephrectomy and Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

In the past decades, several treatments have been proposed for the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Among these, cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) represents a controversial and open issue in the era of targeted therapy and novel immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Two important studies, CARMENA and SURTIME, analyzed therapy with sunitinib with or without CN, and immediate CN followed by sunitinib versus a deferred CN after three cycles of sunitinib, respectively. CARMENA showed the non-inferiority of sunitinib alone versus sunitinib plus CN, whereas SURTIME showed no difference in progression-free survival (PFS), but a better median OS among patients with deferred CN. Therefore, more prospective clinical trials and appropriate patient identification are necessary to support CN in this new scenario. This review provides a snapshot of the current evidence for CN in mRCC, discusses the management strategies, and offers perspectives on the direction of future research.

Role of cytoreductive surgery in the era of immunotherapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The benefit of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) was first called into question in the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) era. It remains undefined in the context of the recent development and approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and level one evidence supporting the rapid adoption of dual ICI and combination ICI + TKI therapeutic approaches for mRCC. Our objective is to synthesize the available contemporary data regarding the safety, feasibility, and oncologic outcomes with CN for mRCC in the age of immunotherapy as well as to highlight trials in progress that will address this key knowledge gap.

RECENT FINDINGS

Data from the SURTIME and CARMENA trials provided insight to guide patient selection for CN in patients with mRCC receiving TKI-based treatment strategies. At present, there is a body of retrospective data supporting the safety and oncologic efficacy of CN in carefully selected patients with mRCC in both the upfront and delayed setting. The results of ongoing trials evaluating the safety and feasibility for CN as well as optimal patient selection and sequencing strategies are eagerly awaited.

SUMMARY

Although the optimal selection criteria and timing for CN remains to be established for patients with mRCC in the immunotherapy era, the available body of evidence underscores the importance of careful patient selection. Ongoing prospective studies, such as Cyto-KIK, PROBE, and NORDIC-SUN, will better define the role of CN in the rapidly evolving treatment landscape for mRCC.