Other-Cause Mortality, According to Partial vs. Radical Nephrectomy: Age and Stage Analyses

We tested the association between other-cause mortality and partial vs. radical nephrectomy in patients with T1a, T1b, and T2 renal cell carcinoma, across all patient ages.

Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2010-2020), patients with localized renal cell carcinoma stages (T1a-T1b-T2, N0, M0), who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy were identified. Only patients with tumor size 2 to 10 cm were included. Cumulative incidence plots and multivariable competing risks regression models were used.

Of 68,195 patients, 28,845 (42%) underwent partial nephrectomy vs. 39,350 (58%) radical nephrectomy. In T1a patients, 5-year other-cause mortality rates were 6% for partial nephrectomy vs. 11% for radical nephrectomy (Δ=5%). In T1a patients, partial nephrectomy independently predicted lower other-cause mortality, across all ages (HR: 0.73, P < .001). In age category subgroup analyses addressing T1a patients, in all age categories, partial nephrectomy invariably predicted lower other-cause mortality than radical nephrectomy: ≤59 years (HR: 0.67, P < .001); 60 to 69 years (HR: 0.70, P < .001); and ≥70 years (HR: 0.79, P < .001). Finally, in T1b patients, as well as in T2 patients, no other-cause mortality advantage was recorded for partial vs. radical nephrectomy: T1b (8 vs. 10%, Δ=2%); T2 (8 vs. 9%, Δ=1%).

Relative to radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy is associated with lower other-cause mortality in stage T1a renal cell carcinoma patients across all age categories, including the oldest patients. Conversely, no clinically meaningful other-cause mortality benefit was associated with partial nephrectomy in stages T1b or T2, regardless of age, including youngest patients.