Outcome prediction for patients with renal cell carcinoma

Outcome assessment for renal cell carcinoma is somewhat controversial. Despite numerous studies, a very limited variety of features have been recognized as having prognostic significance in clinical practice. In this review, tumor features considered to be of importance in outcome prediction for surgically treated patients with the 3 most commonly encountered morphotypes of renal cell carcinoma (clear cell, papillary, and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma) are evaluated. In particular, we have focused upon histologic subtype, sarcomatoid and rhabdoid differentiation, TNM staging, primary tumor size, tumor grade, and the presence of histologic coagulative tumor necrosis. We have also examined the importance of these prognostic features in a variety of postoperative or outcome prediction models developed by several institutions.