The role of preoperative immune cell metrics in renal cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to stratify preoperative immune cell counts by cancer specific outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and a tumor thrombus after radical nephrectomy with tumor thrombectomy. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of RCC with tumor thrombus that underwent radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy across an international consortium of seven institutions were included. Patients who were metastatic at diagnosis and those who received preoperative medical treatment were also included. Retrospective chart review was performed to collect demographic information, past medical history, preoperative lab work, surgical pathology, and follow up data. Neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, monocyte counts, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratios (LMR), and neutrophil to monocyte ratios (NMR) were compared against cancer-specific outcomes using independent samples t-test, Pearson's bivariate correlation, and analysis of variance. RESULTS: One hundred forty-four patients were included in the study, including nine patients who were metastatic at the time of surgery. Absolute lymphocyte count preoperatively was greater in patients who died from RCC compared to those who did not (2 vs 1.4; p < 0.001). Patients with tumor pathology showing perirenal fat invasion had a greater neutrophil count compared to those who did not (7.5 vs 5.5; p = 0.010). Patients with metastatic RCC had a lower LMR compared to those without metastases after surgery (2.5 vs 3.2; p = 0.041). Tumor size, both preoperatively and on gross specimen, had an interaction with multiple immune cell metrics (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative immune metrics have clinical utility in predicting cancer-specific outcomes for patients with RCC and a tumor thrombus. Additional study is needed to determine the added value of preoperative serum immune cell data to established prognostic risk calculators for this patient population.

Positive surgical margins are predictors of local recurrence in conservative kidney surgery for pT1 tumors

ABSTRACT Objectives: The clinical significance of positive surgical margin (PSM) after a Nephron Sparing Surgery (NSS) is controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between PSM and the risk of disease recurrence in patients with pT1 kidney tumors who underwent NSS. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort study. A total of 314 patients submitted to a NSS due to stage pT1 renal tumor between January 2010 and June 2015 were included. Recurrence-free survival was estimated. The Cox model was used to adjust the tumor size, histological grade, pathological stage, age, surgical margins and type of approach. Results: Overall PSM was 6.3% (n=22). Recurrence was evidenced in 9.1% (n=2) of patients with PSM and 3.5% (n=10) for the group of negative surgical margin (NSM). The estimated local recurrence-free survival rate at 3 years was 96.4% (95% CI 91.9 to 100) for the NSM group and 87.8% (95% CI 71.9 to 100) for PSM group (p=0.02) with no difference in metastasis-free survival. The PSM and pathological high grade (Fuhrman grade III or IV) were independent predictors of local recurrence in the multivariate analysis (HR 12.9, 95%CI 1.8-94, p=0.011 / HR 38.3, 95%CI 3.1-467, p=0.004 respectively). Fuhrman grade proved to be predictor of distant recurrence (HR 8.1, 95%CI 1.6-39.7, p=0.011). Conclusions: The PSM in pT1 renal tumors showed to have higher risk of local recurrence and thus, worse oncological prognosis.

Functional and oncologic outcomes after nephron-sparing surgery in a solitary kidney: 10 years of experience

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate functional and oncologic outcomes of partial nephrectomy (PN) in patients with a solitary kidney. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with a solitary kidney undergoing nephron-sparing surgery between March 2003 and March 2013 was performed. GFR was recorded before the procedure and 3 months after surgery, thus establishing a change (cGFR). Several variables that may influence cGFR were analyzed. Complications are herein described, namely bleeding, fistula, acute renal failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Local recurrence and margin status are also described. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan Meier method (2 patients with metastasis at the time of surgery were excluded from the analysis). Results: Forty-five patients were available for analysis. Median follow-up was 27.56 months (r 3-96). Mean cGFR was-7.12mL/min (SD 2.1). Variables significantly related with lower GFR after surgery were loss of renal mass (p=0.01)) and male gender (p=0.03). Four patients (8.8%) experienced hemorrhage. Nine patients (20%) developed a urinary fistula. Only one patient with bleeding required open surgery. Two patients (4.4%) needed transient dialysis. Three patients (6.6%) developed ESRD. Four patients (8.8%) had positive surgical margins (PSMs) and four patients (88%) had local recurrence (2 of these had PSMs). Five patients (11.1%) died during follow-up. Four patients (8.8%) died because of renal cancer. Estimated 2-year overall survival, disease-free survival and cancer specific survival rates were 88.4% (CI 95% 70.5-96); 87.7% (CI 95% 68.1-96) and 92.4% (CI 95% 75-98), respectively. Conclusion: Loss of renal mass and male gender were associated with lower postoperative GFR. Our outcomes were comparable with those in the World literature.