Benefit of on nephrectomy for treating metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has changed with the new therapies, and it is not clear if nephrectomy (NEP) has a survival benefit in this kind of patients.

Objective: To investigate if NEP associated to systemic treatment improves overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Material and methods: A retrospective, observational, descriptive study of 45 patients with diagnosis of mRCC between 2006-2014. Advanced cases with only palliative care were excluded, also patients with solitary metastasis who were managed with surgical resection.

Results: Finally 34 patients were treated with systemic treatment. Twenty-six also with surgery associated. Seventy percent were intermediate/low risk at the Motzer classification and>80% Karnofsky performance status. PFS was 7m. NEP improves PFS (10 vs. 4m). High risk Motzer decreased PFS (P<.001). The OS was 11.5m. Patients with Karnofsky performance status>80, intermediate or low risk Motzer treated with NEP and mTOR as second line treatment, increased the OS (14 vs. 3m, P=.0001; 14 vs. 6m, P=.001; and 9 vs. 5m, P=.003, respectively). In the multivariate analysis only NEP (P=0,006; HR 4.5) and intermediate/low risk at the Motzer classification(P=.020; HR 8.9) demonstrated significant improvement in OS.

Conclusions: Patients treated with NEP associated to systemic treatment and with an intermediate/low risk in the Motzer classification had a better PFS and OS. The OS also improves in patients treated with mTOR in second line, and Karnofsky performance status>80%in the univariate study, but not in the multivariable one.

Keywords: Carcinoma renal metastásico; Clasificación de Motzer; Mestastatic renal cell carcinoma; Motzer classification; Nefrectomía; Nephrectomy.