Reclassification of the current tumor, node, metastasis staging in pT3 renal cell carcinoma

Although the tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging classification of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was last modified in 2002, pT3 staging has continued to be debated. It has been suggested that direct adrenal gland involvement and pT3b with pT3a should be reclassified. This study accordingly explores reclassification of the current 2002 TNM staging in pT3 RCCs.

A total of 111 patients with pT3 RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy at our institution between March 1972 and February 2006 were enrolled in this study. Histological samples were reviewed by a single pathologist. Disease-specific survival was compared according to reclassification as pT3a with perirenal fat involvement only (pT3a-fat), pT3a with adrenal gland involvement (pT3a-ad), pT3b without pT3a factors (pT3b-only), pT3b with pT3a factors (pT3b with pT3a), or pT3c.

Seven patients were identified as having pT3a-ad and 20 patients as having pT3b with pT3a. The mean disease-specific survival times in pT3a-fat and pT3b-only were significantly longer: 124.1 +/- 13.2 (SE) months and 70.9 +/- 9.1 (SE) months, respectively, compared with 24.7 +/- 6.7 (SE) months in pT3a-ad (P = 0.0004 and 0.0010, respectively), and 25.0 +/- 4.4 (SE) months in pT3b with pT3a (P = 0.0009 and 0.0032, respectively). On multivariate analysis, the presence of direct ipsilateral adrenal gland involvement was recognized as a predictor of poor prognosis (P = 0.0331).

Direct ipsilateral adrenal gland involvement for patients with pT3a, and perirenal fat or adrenal gland involvement for patients with pT3b should be reclassified nearly to pT4.