Oncologic and Functional Outcomes of Radical and Partial Nephrectomy in pT3a Pathologically Upstaged Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multi-institutional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of partial nephrectomy (PN) in setting of pT3a pathologic-upstaged renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is controversial. We compared oncologic and functional outcomes of radical nephrectomy (RN) and PN in patients with upstaged pT3a RCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with cT1-2N0M0 RCC upstaged to pT3a postoperatively. The primary outcome was recurrence-free survival, with secondary outcomes of overall survival and de novo estimated glomular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictive factors for oncologic outcomes. Kaplan-Meier analyses (KMA) were obtained to elucidate survival outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 929 patients had pT3a upstaging (686 [72.6%] RN; 243 [25.7%] PN; mean follow-up, 48 months). Tumor size was similar (RN 7.7 cm vs. PN 7.3 cm; P = .083). PN had decreased ΔeGFR (6.1 vs. RN 19.4 mL/min/1.73m2; P < .001) and de novo eGFR < 60 (9.5% vs. 21%; P = .008). Multivariable analysis for recurrence showed increasing RENAL score (hazard ratio [HR], 3.8; P < .001), clinical T stage (HR, 1.8; P < .001), positive margin (HR, 1.57; P = .009), and high grade (HR, 1.21; P = .01) to be independent predictors, whereas surgery was not (P = .076). KMA revealed 5-year recurrence-free survival for cT1-upstaged PN, cT1-upstaged RN, cT2-upstaged PN, and cT2-upstaged RN of 79%, 74%, 70%, and 51%, respectively (P < .001). KMA revealed 5-year overall survival for cT1-upstaged PN, cT1-upstaged RN, cT2-upstaged PN, and cT2-upstaged RN of 64%, 65.2%, 56.4%, and 55.2%, respectively (P = .059). CONCLUSIONS: In pathologically upstaged pT3a RCC, PN did not adversely affect risk of recurrence and provided functional benefit. Surgical decision-making in patients at risk for T3a upstaging should be individualized and driven by tumor as well as functional risks.

Palpable Abdominal Mass is a Renal Oncocytoma: Not All Large Renal Masses are Malignant.

A 59-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. Initial imaging revealed a 14cm solid, enhancing renal mass and suspicion for liver and bone metastases. Family history included a brother with clear cell renal cell carcinoma and mother with glioblastoma multiforme. After liver biopsy was inconclusive, she underwent radical nephrectomy with final pathologic diagnosis of oncocytoma. Renal oncocytoma is the most common benign renal tumor but remains difficult to distinguish clinically and radiographically from renal cell carcinoma. Should urologists use renal mass biopsy even more frequently prior to surgical intervention?

Obesity education in the family medicine clerkship: a US and Canadian survey of clerkship directors' beliefs, barriers, and curriculum content.

BACKGROUND: Despite concerns regarding the increasing obesity epidemic, little is known regarding obesity curricula in medical education. Medical school family medicine clerkships address common primary care topics during clinical training. However, studies have shown that many family physicians feel unprepared at addressing obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors related to obesity education provided during family medicine clerkships as well as identify future plans regarding obesity education. METHODS: Data were collected through the 2017 Educational Research Alliance (CERA) survey of Family Medicine Clerkship Directors (CDs) in the United States and Canada. Survey items included the level of importance of obesity education, teaching methods, barriers to teaching, and obesity related topics taught during the clerkship. Survey data were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 71.2%. The most frequent barrier to teaching obesity related topics was time constraints (89%). The most commonly taught topics were co-morbid conditions (82.1%), diet (76.9%), and exercise (76.9%). The least commonly taught topics were addressed less than 30% of the time, and included cultural aspects, obesity bias, medications than can cause weight gain, medications to treat obesity, and bariatric surgery. Over half of CDs (59%) are not planning to change existing curriculum, with 39% planning to add to the current curriculum. The CDs' perceptions of the importance of obesity education were significantly associated with the number of topics covered during clerkship (p <  0.001). No relationship was found between clerkship duration and the number of obesity topics taught. CONCLUSION: The majority of clerkship directors are planning no changes to their existing curricula which consist of three common topics: obesity related co-morbid conditions, diet, and exercise. While time was the largest self-rated barrier in teaching obesity related topics, clerkship duration didn't impact the number of topics taught. However, the relative amount of importance placed by CDs upon obesity education was significantly associated with the number of topics covered during clerkship.

Neoadjuvant Sunitinib Decreases Inferior Vena Caval Thrombus Size and Is Associated With Improved Oncologic Outcomes: A Multicenter Comparative Analysis.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed outcomes of neoadjuvant sunitinib in patients with renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) and inferior vena caval (IVC) tumor and compared outcomes to patients who did not undergo neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective comparison of RCC patients with IVC tumor who underwent neoadjuvant sunitinib before surgery versus those who did not. Response to sunitinib was defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Primary outcome was cancer-specific survival. Secondary outcomes included overall survival. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with primary and secondary outcomes. Kaplan-Meier analysis compared survival in neoadjuvant and primary surgery groups. RESULTS: Data of 53 patients were analyzed (19 neoadjuvant sunitinib, 34 primary surgery; median follow-up, 58 months). Eighteen (9 in each group, P = .143) had metastatic RCC. There was no difference in IVC tumor level between the 2 groups (P = .76). After neoadjuvant sunitinib, median primary tumor decreased size from 8.1 to 6.8 cm, and IVC tumor decreased by 1.3 cm. IVC tumor level decreased in 8 (42.1%) of 19 and was stable in 10 (52.6%) of 19; 5 (26.3%) of 19 experienced partial response. Similar proportions of patients underwent robot-assisted or minimally invasive approaches (P = .351), and no differences were noted in complications (P = .194). Multivariate analysis showed neoadjuvant sunitinib was associated with improved cancer-specific survival (odds ratio = 3.28; P = .021). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significantly longer median cancer-specific survival (72 vs. 38 months, P = .023) for neoadjuvant sunitinib. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant sunitinib was associated with a reduction in primary tumor and thrombus size as well as improved survival. Further investigation is needed to determine the utility of neoadjuvant sunitinib in RCC with IVC tumor.

Should partial nephrectomy be considered "elective" in patients with stage 2 chronic kidney disease? A comparative analysis of functional and survival outcomes after radical and partial nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare renal function and survival outcomes in patients with baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 2 undergoing partial (PN) or radical nephrectomy (RN), as nephron-sparing surgery is considered to be elective in this group. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients with CKD stage 2 and T1/T2 renal mass undergoing PN or RN from 2001 to 2015. Patients were stratified into substage CKD 2a or CKD 2b and analyzed between types of surgery. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS), eGFR < 45 at last follow-up was the secondary outcome. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was conducted for predictors of eGFR < 45 and OS. Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted for freedom from eGFR < 45 and OS. RESULTS: 1213 patients analyzed (CKD 2a 609/CKD 2b 604) on MVA, RN (OR 3.68, p = 0.001) and CKD 2b (OR 3.3, p = 0.002) were independently associated with development of eGFR < 45 at last follow-up and RN (OR 3.76, p = 0.005) and eGFR < 45 (OR 2.51, p = 0.029) were associated with decreased OS. Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that patients with CKD 2a/PN had the highest 5-year freedom from eGFR < 45 (94.3%) compared to CKD 2a/RN patients (91.5%), CKD2b/PN patients (87.6%) and CKD 2b/RN patients 82.0% (p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analyses for OS demonstrated that patients with CKD 2a/PN had significantly greater 5-year OS (97.6%) compared to CKD 2a/RN patients (95.2%), CKD 2b/PN patients (93.2%), and CKD 2b/RN patients (92.4%, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with baseline CKD stage 2, particularly CKD 2b and undergoing RN, are at increased risk of GFR < 45, which was associated with decreased OS. In patients with CKD 2b, a nephron-sparing strategy is indicated and should be prioritized when feasible.

Comparison of functional outcomes of robotic and open partial nephrectomy in patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: We compared renal functional outcomes of robotic (RPN) and open partial nephrectomy (OPN) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a definite indication for nephron-sparing surgery. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective analysis of OPN and RPN in patients with baseline ≥ CKD Stage III [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2] was performed. Primary outcome was change in eGFR (ΔeGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2) between preoperative and last follow-up with respect to RENAL nephrometry score group [simple (4-6), intermediate (7-9), complex (10-12)]. Secondary outcomes included eGFR decline > 50%. RESULTS: 728 patients (426 OPN, 302 RPN, mean follow-up 33.3 months) were analyzed. Similar RENAL score distribution (p = 0.148) was noted between groups. RPN had lower median estimated blood loss (p < 0.001), and hospital stay (3 vs. 5 days, p < 0.001). Median ischemia time (OPN 23.7 vs. RPN 21.5 min, p = 0.089), positive margin (p = 0.256), transfusion (p = 0.166), and 30-day complications (p = 0.208) were similar. For OPN vs. RPN, mean ΔeGFR demonstrated no significant difference for simple (0.5 vs. 0.3, p = 0.328), intermediate (2.1 vs. 2.1, p = 0.384), and complex (4.9 vs. 6.1, p = 0.108). Cox regression analysis demonstrated that decreasing preoperative eGFR (OR 1.10, p = 0.001) and complex RENAL score (OR 5.61, p = 0.03) were independent predictors for eGFR decline > 50%. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated 5-year freedom from eGFR decline > 50% of 88.6% for OPN and 88.3% for RPN (p = 0.724). CONCLUSIONS: RPN and OPN demonstrated similar renal functional outcomes when stratified by tumor complexity group. Increasing tumor age and tumor complexity were primary drivers associated with functional decline. RPN provides similar renal functional outcomes to OPN in appropriately selected patients.

Renal Functional Outcome of Partial Nephrectomy for Complex R.E.N.A.L. Score Tumors With or Without Neoadjuvant Sunitinib: A Multicenter Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sunitinib might optimize the feasibility of partial nephrectomy (PN) for complex renal tumors with imperative indications. We compared the renal functional outcomes of patients with complex renal masses who had undergone sunitinib before PN with those of patients who had not required neoadjuvant sunitinib before PN. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with renal cell carcinoma who had undergone PN for a complex renal mass (R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score, 10-12) and imperative indications from January 2012 to July 2014. Neoadjuvant sunitinib was used in cases for which PN was not considered feasible. The cohort was divided into those patients who had undergone PN without neoadjuvant sunitinib and those who had undergone PN after sunitinib (no-neoadjuvant vs. neoadjuvant). The change in tumor size and R.E.N.A.L. score were assessed. The primary outcome was the change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (ΔeGFR) from preoperatively to the last postoperative follow-up visit. RESULTS: The data from 125 consecutive patients were analyzed (47 neoadjuvant and 78 no-neoadjuvant; median follow-up, 21 months). The neoadjuvant plus PN patients had had a greater median tumor size preoperatively (7.2 vs. 6 cm; P = .045). Sunitinib caused a significant decrease in the median tumor size (from 7.2 to 5.8 cm [19.4%]; P = .012) and R.E.N.A.L. score (from 11 to 9; P = .001). No significant differences were found between the neoadjuvant and no-neoadjuvant groups in the ischemia time (P = .413) or incidence of complications (P = .728). The median ΔeGFR was similar (neoadjuvant, 6.4; no-neoadjuvant, 6.1; P = .534). Linear regression analysis for factors associated with an increasing ΔeGFR demonstrated increasing age (estimate, -0.074; P = .009) increasing body mass index (estimate, -0.087; P = .043), and decreasing baseline eGFR (estimate, -0.104; P = .02) as significant factors. CONCLUSION: The use of neoadjuvant sunitinib might facilitate complex PN and result in renal functional outcomes similar to those of patients with a complex renal mass who had not required neoadjuvant sunitinib.

Chronic Kidney Disease Is More Common in Locally Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate clinical predictors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients to identify associations between patient- and tumor-specific factors with poorer renal function. CKD and RCC are interrelated, with 26%-44% of RCC patients having concomitant CKD at diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Institutional registries from Spectrum Health and University of California, San Diego, were queried for preoperative glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria status before radical or partial nephrectomy. Preoperative clinical and tumor factors were recorded; proteinuria was classified as A1 (<30 mg), A2 (30-300 mg), and A3 (>300 mg). CKD was grouped by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes classification (low, moderately increased, high, very high). RESULTS: We evaluated 1569 patients undergoing surgery for renal cortical tumors. CKD status was low risk in 860 (55%), moderately increased in 381 (24%), high in 194 (12%), and very high in 134 (9%) patients. Increased radius, exophytic or endophytic properties, nearness of tumor to the collecting system or sinus in millimeters, anterior or posterior, location relative to polar lines score, tumor size, and clinical tumor stage were strongly associated with increased CKD risk at baseline. Clinical stage T3/T4 disease had more at-risk patients than stages T2 and T1 disease (39.5% vs 22% and 19%, P = .0001). Clinical tumor stage and gender were the only predictors of proteinuria, lower glomerular filtration rate, and higher CKD risk group in both univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: Forty-five percent of patients with RCC had moderate or higher CKD before treatment. A positive correlation between pretreatment CKD and locally advanced RCC (cT3/T4) was present. This likely relates to increased loss of functional parenchyma with increasing tumor size or stage, with important implications in patient management.

Neoadjuvant Targeted Molecular Therapy Before Renal Surgery.

Neoadjuvant targeted molecular therapy may benefit select patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The primary use of this therapy in patients with metastatic disease is to reduce tumor burden, prevent distant metastasis, and increase overall survival. Neoadjuvant therapy may reduce tumor size and tumor complexity, facilitate partial nephrectomy rather than radical nephrectomy, downstage tumor thrombus facilitating thrombectomy, and make unresectable tumors resectable when applied to selected patients. These potential benefits of neoadjuvant therapy require further clinical trials to better define the renal function and oncological and survival outcomes in patients receiving each active agent.

Prevalence of Proteinuria and Other Abnormalities in Urinalysis Performed in the Urology Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of proteinuria in the urology clinic with other outpatient settings. Chronic kidney disease is classified according to cause, glomerular filtration rate, and proteinuria. Proteinuria may be more prevalent in patients with known chronic kidney disease, renal disorders (benign or malignant), or after urologic surgery. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 3 populations undergoing urinalysis (UA) testing was carried out: general outpatients (n = 20,334), urology outpatients (n = 5023), and kidney cancer patients (n = 1016). Proteinuria was classified under Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines: A1 (<30 mg), A2 (30-300 mg), and A3 (>300 mg). RESULTS: Proteinuria was detected throughout a community-based health system in 8.6% of UA (8.2%: A2; 0.4%: A3). In comparison, 18.6% of urology office-performed UA had proteinuria (16.0%: A2, 2.5%: A3) (P < .0001 vs non-urology). Kidney cancer patients were more likely to have proteinuria (17.9%: A2, 3.8%: A3). The proportion with A3 was significantly higher in urology and kidney cancer patients when compared with other outpatients (each P < .0001), and in the kidney cancer subgroup compared with all urology patients (P < .0001). Additional abnormalities were frequently present on microscopic analysis of UA in the urology clinic, including hematuria (20.9%), pyuria (21.8%), and bacteriuria (3.1%). CONCLUSION: The value of UA in the urology clinic as a screening test for proteinuria and other conditions appears high, with >56% having at least 1 abnormality. The population risk of proteinuria in the urology clinic is 18.5%, which is higher than that observed in non-urology clinics. Patients with kidney cancer appear more likely to have proteinuria than the average urology patient. We recommend evaluation of urology patients with UA to identify proteinuria.