Current Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Critical

Aristotle Bamias1,2, Bernard Escudier3, Cora N Sternberg4

  • 1Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece.

The Oncologist
|June 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Guidelines for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treatment are rapidly evolving. A systematic review identified key areas of uncertainty in managing localized and metastatic RCC, highlighting the need for further research and individualized therapy selection.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Urology
  • Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

  • The management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rapidly evolving due to advances in surgical techniques and systemic therapies.
  • Novel agents targeting VEGF, mTOR, and immune checkpoints have improved outcomes for metastatic RCC (mRCC).
  • These developments necessitate continuous updates to clinical practice guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review existing RCC guidelines to identify areas of agreement and discrepancy.
  • To evaluate the reasons underlying discrepancies in current guidelines.
  • To pinpoint areas of uncertainty for future research and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of MEDLINE-indexed guidelines was performed according to PRISMA statement.
  • Data synthesis focused on identifying consensus and divergence in treatment recommendations.
  • Areas of uncertainty were analyzed in relation to available evidence, including phase III randomized controlled trials.

Main Results:

  • Key areas of uncertainty include selection criteria for nonsurgical approaches, partial nephrectomy, cytoreductive nephrectomy, metastasectomy in mRCC, systemic therapy for non-clear-cell RCC, and sequencing of therapies post-anti-VEGF treatment.
  • Agreement and uncertainty were not consistently correlated with the availability of high-level evidence.
  • Individualization of targeted therapies is suggested as current best practice.

Conclusions:

  • Systematic review and critical evaluation of guidelines can define broadly applicable practices and identify research priorities.
  • Addressing uncertainties in RCC management is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.
  • Further research is needed to refine guidelines for complex scenarios in RCC treatment.

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