Treating the Two Extremes in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Management of Small Renal Masses and Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in Metastatic Disease

Author(s):  
Dae Y. Kim ◽  
Christopher G. Wood ◽  
Jose A. Karam

OVERVIEW: The incidental renal mass represents a heterogeneous group that contains both benign and malignant pathologies. The majority of renal cell carcinomas are discovered incidentally, without the presence of symptoms directly related to the mass, and are closely associated with the term small renal masses because of the discovery before the onset of symptoms. In general, small renal masses are defined as 4 cm or smaller, and may account for greater than half of renal cell carcinoma diagnosis. The use of renal mass biopsy may offer additional pathological information but the clinician must be reminded of the technical and diagnostic limitations of renal mass biopsy. Patient-dependent factors, such as life expectancy and comorbidities, guide the management of small renal masses, which include active surveillance, partial nephrectomy, radical nephrectomy, and ablative techniques (cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation). Partial nephrectomy has demonstrated durable oncologic control for small renal masses while preserving renal function and, if feasible, is the current treatment of choice. In the other extreme of the renal cell carcinomas spectrum and in the presence of metastatic disease, the removal of the renal primary tumor is termed cytoreductive nephrectomy. Two randomized trials (SWOG 8949 and EORTC 30947) have demonstrated a survival benefit with cytoreductive nephrectomy before the initiation of immunotherapy. These two studies have also been the motivation to perform cytoreductive nephrectomy in the targeted therapy era. Currently, there are two ongoing randomized prospective trials accruing to investigate the timing and relevance of cytoreductive nephrectomy in the contemporary setting of targeted therapy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
Lauren Nahouraii ◽  
Jordan Allen ◽  
Suzanne Merrill ◽  
Erik Lehman ◽  
Matthew Kaag ◽  
...  

Pathologic characteristics of extirpated renal cell carcinoma (RCC) specimens <7  cm were reviewed to get better information on technical nuances of renal mass biopsy (RMB). Specimens were stratified according to tumor stage, nuclear grade, size, histology, presence of lymphovas-cular invasion (LVI), necrosis, and sarcomatoid features. When considering pT1 (0–7 cm) tumors pT1b (4–7 cm), RCC masses were more likely to have necrosis (43% vs 16%, P < 0.001), LVI (6% vs 2%, P = 0.024), high-grade nuclear elements (29% vs 17%, P < 0.001), and sarcomatoid features (2% vs 0%, P = 0.006) compared with pT1a (0–4 cm) tumors. Additionally, pT3a tumors were more highly associated with necrosis (P = 0.005), LVI, sarcomatoid features, and high-grade disease (P for all < 0.001) when compared to pT1 masses. For masses <4 cm, pT3a cancers were more likely to demonstrate necrosis (38% vs 16%, P < 0.001), LVI (10% vs 2%, P = 0.037), high-grade nuclear elements (31% vs 17%, P = 0.05), and sarcomatoid features (3% vs 0%, P = 0.065) compared to pT1a tumors. Similarly, for masses 4–7 cm, pathologic T3a tumors were significantly more likely to have sarcomatoid features (16% vs 2%, P < 0.001) and LVI (28% vs 6%, P < 0.001) compared to pT1b tumors. In summary, pT3a tumors and those RCC masses >4 cm exhibit considerable histologic heterogeneity and may harbor elements that are not easily appreciated with limited renal sampling. Therefore, if RMB is considered for renal masses greater than 4 cm or those that abut sinus fat, a multi-quadrant biopsy approach is necessary to ensure adequate sampling and characterization of the mass.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 440-440
Author(s):  
Kara Babaian ◽  
Surena F. Matin ◽  
Pheroze Tamboli ◽  
Nizar M. Tannir ◽  
Eric Jonasch ◽  
...  

440 Background: Up to one-third of patients with renal cell carcinoma present with metastatic disease (mRCC). Cytoreductive nephrectomy remains the standard of care for appropriately selected patients. However, cytoreductive nephrectomy is not always practical. We sought to identify the indications and outcomes for partial nephrectomy (PN) in our cohort of patients with mRCC, with particular attention to different PN subgroups. Methods: Using our institutional database, 30 patients with mRCC who underwent PN between 1996 and 2011 were identified. Demographic, clinical, and pathologic variables were collected. Non-parametric statistics and log-rank tests were used. Cancer specific survival (CSS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method according to presentation, tumor size, and presence of metastatic disease, from the time of PN to last follow-up or death. Results: The median age at PN was 57 years (range 32-84). 8 patients presented with bilateral synchronous renal masses; 17 presented with a metachronous contralateral renal mass; and 5 presented with a unilateral renal mass (including 3 in a solitary kidney). Median follow-up after PN was 32 months (range 1-184). Overall, 23 patients (77%) died of disease at a median of 27 months (range 7-86) after PN. Patients who underwent PN for a metachronous contralateral renal mass had a median CSS of 61 months compared to those with bilateral synchronous or unilateral renal masses (CSS 26.5 months, HR 2.98, p =.012 and CSS 31, HR 2.12, p =.069, respectively). Patients who underwent PN for a renal mass ≤4cm and >4cm had a median CSS of 42 and 26.5 months, respectively (HR 2.49, p =.037). Median CSS for patients with and without metastatic disease at original diagnosis was 27 and 61 months, respectively (HR 2.85, p =.013). In this study, patients who became M0 after metastasectomy did not have improved CSS compared to patients who did not (42 and 32 months, p =0.152). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the burden of disease at initial diagnosis, timing of presentation of the PN index lesion, and the size of the renal mass at PN play an important role in survival. These factors should be taken into consideration when determining which patients would benefit from PN in the setting of mRCC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Nahouraii ◽  
Jordan L. Allen ◽  
Suzanne B. Merrill ◽  
Erik Lehman ◽  
Matthew G. Kaag ◽  
...  

Pathologic characteristics of extirpated renal cell carcinoma (RCC) specimens <7 cm were reviewed to get better information on technical nuances of renal mass biopsy (RMB). Specimens were stratified according to tumor stage, nuclear grade, size, histology, presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI), necrosis, and sarcomatoid features. When considering pT1 (0–7 cm) tumors, pT1b (4–7 cm) RCC masses were more likely to have necrosis (43% vs 16%, P < 0.001), LVI (6% vs 2%, P = 0.024), high-grade nuclear elements (29% vs 17%, P < 0.001), and sarcomatoid features (2% vs 0%, P = 0.006) compared with pT1a (0–4 cm) tumors. Additionally, pT3a tumors were more highly associated with necrosis (P = 0.005), LVI, sarcomatoid features, and high-grade disease (P for all < 0.001) when compared to pT1 masses. For masses ≤ 4 cm, pT3a cancers were more likely to demonstrate necrosis (38% vs 16%, P < 0.001), LVI (22% vs 2%, P < 0.001), high-grade nuclear elements (45% vs 17%, P < 0.001), and sarcomatoid features (12% vs 0%, P < 0.001) compared to pT1a tumors. Similarly, for masses 4–7 cm, pathologic T3a tumors were significantly more likely to have sarcomatoid features (12% vs 2%, P = 0.006) and LVI (22% vs 6%, P = 0.003) compared to pT1b tumors. In summary, pT3a tumors and those RCC masses >4 cm exhibit considerable histologic heterogeneity and may harbor elements that are not easily appreciated with limited renal sampling. Therefore, if RMB is considered for renal masses greater than 4 cm or those that abut sinus fat, a multi-quadrant biopsy approach is necessary to ensure adequate sampling and characterization of the mass.


2017 ◽  
Vol 197 (4S) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Manley ◽  
Ed Reznik ◽  
Maria Becerra ◽  
Jozefina Casuscelli ◽  
Daniel Tennenbaum ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 1048-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.L. Richey ◽  
S.H. Culp ◽  
E. Jonasch ◽  
P.G. Corn ◽  
L.C. Pagliaro ◽  
...  

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