Surgical treatment for renal masses in the elderly: analysis of oncological, surgical and functional outcomes

ABSTRACT Purpose: Radical treatment in elderly patients with renal tumor remains debatable due to uncertainties regarding the risk of surgical complications, risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and survival benefit. The aim of the study was to assess outcomes of radical treatment for renal cancer in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis enrolled 507 consecutive patients treated with partial or radical nephrectomy due to renal mass. Patients with upfront metastatic disease (n=46) and patients lost to follow-up (n=110) were excluded from the analysis. Surgical, functional (screen for ESRD development) and survival outcomes were analyzed in patients aged >75 years in comparison to younger individuals. Results: The analyzed group included 55 elderly patients and 296 younger controls. Within the cohort a total of 148 and 203 patients underwent radical and partial nephrectomies respectively. The rate of surgical complications, including grade ≥3 Clavien- Dindo complications, did not differ between groups (3.6% vs. 4.4%, p=0.63). Median length of hospital stay was equal in both groups (7 days). During a follow-up (median 51.9 months, no difference between groups), ESRD occurred in 3.4% of controls and was not reported in elderly group (p=0.37). Younger patients demonstrated a statistically significant advantage in both overall survival and cancer-specific survival over elderly patients (OS 94.6% vs. 87% p=0.036, CSS 97.3% vs. 89.1% p=0.0008). Conclusions: Surgical treatment in elderly patients with renal tumor is as safe as in younger individuals and does not increase the risk of ESRD. However, cancer specific survival among these patients remains shorter than in younger patients.

Preditores de mortalidade em pacientes submetidos à nefrectomia por carcinoma de células renais não metastático em um centro de referência no Nordeste Brasileiro / Predictors of mortality in patients submitted to nephrectomy for non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma at a referral center in Northeastern Brazil

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar fatores prognósticos envolvidos no carcinoma de células renais não metastático. Métodos: estudo tipo coorte retrospectivo, utilizando dados obtidos em revisão de prontuários de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células renais, submetidos à nefrectomia radical ou parcial, no Instituto do Câncer do Ceará. Resultados: foram estudados 117 pacientes com média de idade de 59,14 anos e mediana de 59 anos. Não houve predominância de sexo, o rim direito foi o mais acometido (64%) e o tipo histopatológico mais comum foi o carcinoma de células claras (77%). Predominou o estádio pT1 e o grau GII. Das variáveis analisadas, apenas o estadiamento patológico (pT) e o acometimento linfonodal revelaram-se preditoras de sobrevida global. Conclusão: o estadiamento patológico (pT) e o acometimento de linfonodos regionais são fatores prognósticos importantes em pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células renais não metastáticos submetidos a nefrectomia.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify predictors of mortality in patients submitted to nephrectomy for non-metastatic renal cancer. Methods: we conducted a retrospective cohort study based on the records of patients with renal cancer submitted to radical or partial nephrectomy at the Ceará Cancer Institute. Results: we studied 117 patients, with mean and median age of 59.14 and 59 years, respectively. The male gender was slightly predominant. The right kidney was most frequently affected (64%). The most common histopathological diagnosis was clear-cell carcinoma (77%). Stage pT1 and Fuhrman grade II were predominant. The only predictive variables of overall survival were pathological stage (pT) and lymph node involvement. Conclusion: pathological stage (pT) and lymph node involvement are important prognostic factors in patients undergoing nephrectomy for non-metastatic renal cancer.

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.

Brazilian data of renal cell carcinoma in a public university hospital

ABSTRACT Purpose Among renal malignancies, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 85% of cases. Stage is a relevant prognostic factor; 5-year survival ranges from 81% to 8% according to the stage of disease. The treatment is based on surgery and molecularly targeted therapy has emerged as a choice for metastatic disease. Materials and Methods Retrospective study by reviewing the medical records of patients with RCC treated in the last 10 years at UNIFESP. The primary end point of this trial was to evaluate the overall survival (OS) of the patients. The secondary end point was to evaluate the progression-free survival (PFS) after nephrectomy. Results 118 patients with RCC were included. The mean age was 58.3 years, 61.9% men; nephrectomy was performed in 90.7%, clear cell was the histology in 85.6%, 44 patients were classified as stage IV at diagnosis. Among these, 34 had already distant metastasis. 29 patients were treated with sunitinib. The median OS among all patients was 55.8 months. The median PFS after nephrectomy was 79.1 months. Sarcomatoid differentiation HR29.74 (95% CI, 4.31-205.26), clinical stage IV HR1.94 (95% CI, 1.37-2.75) and nephrectomy HR0.32 (95% CI, 0.15-0.67) were OS prognostic factors. Sunitinib had clinical activity. Conclusions Patients treated in our hospital achieved median OS compatible with literature. Nevertheless, this study has shown a high number of patients with advanced disease. For patients with advanced disease, treatment with sunitinib achieved median OS of 28.7 months, consistent with the literature.

Activity and safety of sunitinib in poor risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients

Purpose To assess the activity, safety and treatment patterns of sunitinib in patients with poor-risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of poor risk patients treated with sunitinib from October 2006 to July 2013 who met the eligibility criteria. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Tumor radiological response was measured according to RECIST 1.1 and adverse events (AEs) were assessed through standard criteria. Results Median OS was 8.16 months (95% CI, 5.73-10.59). Of the 53 patients included in this analysis, 9 (17.0%) achieved partial response, 12 (22.6%) had stable disease. Median treatment duration was 3.30 months (95% CI: 1.96-4.63) and 26.4% of patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity. Grade 3 or higher AEs occurred in 39.6% of patients, the most common being fatigue (15.1%), neutropenia (9.5%), nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (7.5% each). Discussion Sunitinib may benefit some unselected poor-risk patients, although the rates of AEs and drug discontinuation suggest a need for careful patient monitoring. .