Partial vs. radical nephrectomy in non-metastatic pT3a kidney cancer patients: a population-based study

The aim of this study was to test for differences in cancer specific mortality (CSM) rates between radical nephrectomy (RN) and partial nephrectomy (PN) in pT3a nmRCC patients.

Within the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database (2005-2016), 13,177 pT3a patients treated with either PN or RN were identified. Before and after 1:2 ratio propensity score (PS)-match between PN and RN patients, cumulative incidence plot and competing risks regression (CRR) were used to test differences in CSM and other cause mortality (OCM) rates.

Relative to PN (N.=1615, 22.5%), RN patients harbored higher tumor size (72 vs. 38 mm; >70 mm 51 vs.10%), of more aggressive histology, collecting duct (0.4 vs. 0.2%) and sarcomatoid (2.3 vs.0.8%), of higher grade (51.0 vs. 37.5%). After PS-matching and OCM adjustment, 5-year CSM was 3-fold higher after RN than PN (P<0.01). Similarly, after PS matching and CSM adjustment, also 5-year OCM rates were higher after RN (HR: 1.59, P=0.0003).

PN does not appear to compromise the oncological outcomes in patients with pT3a or high-grade renal masses when compared with RN. Therefore, these concerns should not deter a surgeon from attempting PN when otherwise technically feasible.