Comparison of Partial Nephrectomy Versus Radical Nephrectomy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Immunotherapy...

The therapeutic paradigm for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has experienced a transformative evolution, and cytoreductive nephrectomy remains a clinically viable option in the immunotherapy era. However, the survival benefits of partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical nephrectomy (RN) have yet to be compared. This study aimed to comprehensively compare the outcomes of PN and RN among patients with mRCC in the real-world setting.

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was reviewed for patients with mRCC diagnosed between 2016 and 2021 who underwent PN or RN. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and other-cause specific survival (OCSS). The analytical methods included propensity score matching (PSM), Kaplan‒Meier survival curves, and Cox proportional hazards modeling.

A total of 2775 patients with mRCC were identified, with 134 (4.8%) undergoing PN and 2641 (95.2%) receiving RN. Patients in the PN group were more frequently diagnosed with lower T stage, lower grade, N0, and non-clear cell RCC, whereas those in the RN group exhibited a higher incidence of lung metastasis. Following 1:2 PSM, there was no significant difference in OS, DSS, and OCSS between the groups. Further subgroup analysis indicated that PN may contribute to prolonged OS in patients with mRCC with T1 and N0 disease, whereas patients with N1 mRCC may benefit more from RN.

PN could provide comparable survival benefit as RN for patients with mRCC in the era of immunotherapy. However, preoperative staging and risk stratification are necessary, as the prognosis of mRCC varied between groups with different T or N stages.