Renal cell carcinoma clinically involving adjacent organs: experience with aggressive surgical management

Vitaly Margulis1, Ricardo F Sánchez-Ortiz, Pheroze Tamboli

  • 1Department of Urology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.

Cancer
|April 11, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Aggressive surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) involving adjacent organs is effective, even when initial staging suggests otherwise. Pathologic T stage and nodal status predict recurrence and survival in these complex RCC cases.

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Surgical Oncology
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Historically, advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with adjacent organ involvement was deemed inoperable.
  • This study evaluates the oncologic outcomes of aggressive surgical management in select RCC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy of radical nephrectomy and adjacent organ resection in nonmetastatic RCC.
  • To identify clinical and pathologic factors predicting surgical outcomes in T4 RCC.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 3470 RCC patients from 1990-2006.
  • Inclusion criteria: nonmetastatic RCC with radical nephrectomy and resection of at least one adjacent organ, with a minimum 6-month follow-up.
  • Analysis of 30 patients with clinical T4NxM0 RCC.

Main Results:

  • 60% of patients initially suspected of T4 RCC were downstaged pathologically.
  • Nodal status and pathologic T stage were significant predictors of recurrence and cancer-specific survival.
  • Disease recurrence rates were 61.1% for

Conclusions:

  • Pre- and intraoperative parameters cannot reliably predict true pathologic involvement of adjacent organs in RCC.
  • Many patients clinically staged as T4 RCC benefit from aggressive surgical resection, including en bloc removal of involved organs.