Upfront Cytoreductive Nephrectomy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors or Targeted Therapy: An Observational Study from the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium

Characterization of Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Deferred, Upfront, or No Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in the Era of Combination Immunotherapy: Results from the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium

BACKGROUND

The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) has not yet been well characterized in the era of combination immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate characteristics and outcomes for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who received immuno-oncology (IO)-based combination therapy according to CN status.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Using the International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC), patients with mRCC who received frontline IO-based combinations were included. Upfront CN was defined as CN up to 3 mo before diagnosis of metastatic disease but before systemic therapy initiation. Deferred CN was defined as CN after systemic therapy initiation.

OUTCOMES MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Overall survival (OS) from initiation of systemic therapy was estimated via Cox proportional-hazards regression. A 12-mo landmark time and a time-varying covariate for CN status were used to mitigate potential bias.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Of the 385 patients eligible for landmark analysis, 24, 182, and 179 underwent deferred CN, upfront CN, and no CN, respectively. Patients in the no CN subgroup were older (63 yr vs 57 yr in the deferred CN subgroup and 60 yr in the upfront CN subgroup; p = 0.001) and a higher proportion had bone metastases (44% vs 26% in the deferred CN subgroup and 23% in the upfront CN subgroup; p < 0.001). A lower proportion of patients in the upfront CN subgroup had IMDC poor risk (23% vs 43% in the no CN subgroup and 47% in the deferred CN subgroup; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, CN receipt was an independent favorable prognostic factor (hazard ratio 0.45, 95% confidence interval 0.26-0.78; p = 0.005). The study is limited by the lack of randomization and its retrospective nature.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite changes in practice patterns with the advent of novel therapeutic agents, CN may still serve as an effective surgical intervention in carefully selected patients.

PATIENT SUMMARY

For patients with metastatic kidney cancer, surgery to remove the primary tumor was traditionally the treatment of choice, but immunotherapy drugs are now another option for these patients. We analyzed data for contemporary patients with metastatic kidney cancer who received combination immunotherapy as their first treatment. We found that in selected patients receiving immunotherapy, surgery to remove the primary tumor as well can result in better prognosis.

Multidisciplinary systemic and local therapies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Systemic and local therapies for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are often challenging despite evolution of multimodal cancer therapies in the last decade. In this review, we will focus on recent multidisciplinaryapproaches for patients with mRCC.

AREAS COVERED

Systemic therapy for patients with mRCC has been garnering attention particularly after the approval of immuno-oncology (IO) agents, including anti-programmed death 1/programmed death-ligand 1. IO combinations have also significantly prolonged overall survival in patients with mRCC in the first-line setting. Regarding local therapies, cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) have become less common in the post-Cancer du Rein Metastatique Nephrectomie et Antiangiogéniques (CARMENA) trial era, even though CN may still benefit selected patients with mRCC. In addition, metastasis-directed local therapies, namely metastasectomy or stereotactic radiotherapy, particularly for oligo-metastatic lesions or brain metastases, may also have a prognostic impact. Several ablative techniques are also evolving while maintaining high local control rates with acceptable safety.

EXPERT OPINION

Multimodal cancer therapies are essential for conquering complex cases of mRCC. Modern systemic therapies including IO-based combination therapy as well as local therapies including CN, metastasectomy, stereotactic radiotherapy, and ablative techniques appear to improve oncologic outcomes of patients with mRCC, although appropriate patient selection is indispensable.

Real-World Impact of Upfront Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in Metastatic Non-Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated with First-Line Immunotherapy Combinations or Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (A Sub-Analysis from the ARON-1 Retrospective Study)

BACKGROUND

About 20% of patients with renal cell carcinoma present with non-clear cell histology (nccRCC), encompassing various histological types. While surgery remains pivotal for localized-stage nccRCC, the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in metastatic nccRCC is contentious. Limited data exist on the role of CN in metastatic nccRCC under current standard of care.

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective study focused on the impact of upfront CN on metastatic nccRCC outcomes with first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (IO) combinations or tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) monotherapy.

METHODS

The study included 221 patients with nccRCC and synchronous metastatic disease, treated with IO combinations or TKI monotherapy in the first line. Baseline clinical characteristics, systemic therapy, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. The primary objective was to assess clinical outcomes, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Statistical analysis involved the Fisher exact test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, analysis of variance, Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and univariate/multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models.

RESULTS

Median OS for patients undergoing upfront CN was 36.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.9-71.3) versus 20.8 (95% CI 12.6-24.8) months for those without CN (p = 0.005). Upfront CN was significantly associated with OS in the multivariate Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio 0.47 [95% CI 0.31-0.72], p < 0.001). In patients without CN, the median OS and PFS was 24.5 (95% CI 18.1-40.5) and 13.0 months (95% CI 6.6-23.5) for patients treated with IO+TKI versus 7.5 (95% CI 4.3-22.4) and 4.9 months (95% CI 3.0-8.1) for those receiving the IO+IO combination (p = 0.059 and p = 0.032, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the survival benefits of upfront CN compared with systemic therapy without CN. The study suggests that the use of IO+TKI combination or, eventually, TKI monotherapy might be a better choice than IO+IO combination for patients who are not candidates for CN regardless of IO eligibility. Prospective trials are needed to validate these findings and refine the role of CN in current mRCC management.

Efficacy of cytoreductive radical cystectomy in metastatic urothelial bladder cancer based on site and number of metastases

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have highlighted the overall survival (OS) benefit of cytoreductive radical cystectomy (CRC) in metastatic bladder cancer (mBCa). Cytoreductive surgery has been established in other urologic cancers. However, the efficacy of CRC and optimal criteria for patient selection in mBCa is unclear. This study investigated the oncologic efficacy of CRC, particularly emphasizing the location and number of metastasis sites as a predictor of survival and treatment response.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of cT2-4N0-3M1 mBCa patients treated with multiagent chemotherapy between 2004 and 2019 was conducted using the National Cancer Database. Patients were classified by additional treatment with CRC or conservative local treatment (CLT), consisting of transurethral resection of bladder tumor, radiation, or no local treatment and propensity score (PS) matched. Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards model assessed the effect of CRC or CLT on OS within the matched cohort and in four subgroups (1) patients with only distant lymph node (LN) metastasis vs. any organ metastasis, (2) patients with single metastasis vs. multiple metastases. Sensitivity analysis estimated the influence of unmeasured confounders on CRC OS benefit.

RESULTS

Propensity matching yielded 247 and 251 patients treated with CRC and CLT, respectively. Median OS in patients who received CRC was greater than that of patients treated with CLT (20.4 months vs. 12.0 months, P < 0.001). CRC was associated with reduced mortality risk in patients with only distant LN metastases (HR = 0.545, P = 0.039), any organ metastasis (HR = 0.421, P < 0.001), and single visceral metastasis (HR = 0.483, P = 0.002). However, CRC did not significantly improve OS in patients with multiple metastases (HR = 0.501, P = 0.064).

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate an OS benefit of CRC with multiagent chemotherapy and pinpoint multiple visceral metastases as a potential contraindication for CRC. Although limited by the influence of unmeasured confounders, these findings may inform future prospective investigations into CRC.

Does the Timing of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy Impact Outcomes? Analysis of REMARCC Registry Data for Patients Receiving Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Versus Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

Background and objective

The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has been called into question on the basis of clinical trial data from the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era. Comparative analyses of CN for patients treated with immuno-oncology (IO) versus TKI agents are sparse. Our objective was to compare CN timing and outcomes among patients who received TKI versus IO therapy.

Methods

This was a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients who underwent CN using data from the REMARCC (Registry of Metastatic RCC) database. The cohort was divided into TKI versus IO first-line therapy groups. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality (ACM). Secondary outcomes included cancer-specific mortality (CSM). Multivariable analysis was used to identify factors predictive for ACM and CSM. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze 5-yr overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) with stratification by primary systemic therapy and timing in relation to CN.

Key findings and limitations

We analyzed data for 189 patients (148 TKI + CN, 41 IO +CN; median follow-up 23.2 mo). Multivariable analysis revealed that a greater number of metastases (hazard ratio [HR] 1.06; p = 0.015), greater primary tumor size (HR 1.10; p = 0.043), TKI receipt (HR 2.36; p = 0.015), and initiation of systemic therapy after CN (HR 1.49; p = 0.039) were associated with worse ACM. A greater number of metastases at diagnosis (HR 1.07; p = 0.011), greater primary tumor size (HR 1.12; p = 0.018), TKI receipt (HR 5.43; p = 0.004), and initiation of systemic therapy after CN (HR 2.04; p < 0.001) were associated with worse CSM. Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed greater 5-yr rates for OS (51% vs 27%; p < 0.001) and CSS (83% vs 30%; p < 0.001) for IO +CN versus TKI + CN. This difference persisted in a subgroup analysis for patients with intermediate or poor risk, with 5-yr OS rates of 50% for IO + CN versus 30% for TKI + CN (p < 0.001). A subanalysis stratified by CN timing revealed better 5-yr rates for OS (50% vs 30%; p = 0.042) and CSS (90% vs 30%, p = 0.019) for delayed CN after IO therapy, but not after TKI therapy.

Conclusions and clinical implications

For patients who underwent CN, systemic therapy before CN was associated with better outcomes. In addition, IO therapy was associated with better survival outcomes in comparison to TKI therapy. Our findings question the applicability of clinical trial data from the TKI era to CN in the IO era for mRCC.

Patient summary

For patients with metastatic kidney cancer treated with surgery, better survival outcomes were observed for those who also received immunotherapy in comparison to therapy targeting specific proteins in the body (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, TKIs). Immunotherapy or TKI treatment resulted in better outcomes if it was received before rather than after surgery.

Beyond the knife: strategic patient selection for cytoreductive nephrectomy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To evaluate the current role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) within the context of evolving treatment paradigms, focusing on implications for patient selection.

RECENT FINDINGS

Two randomized trials failed to show significant benefits from CN for intermediate and poor-risk patients undergoing targeted therapy. Despite this, subgroup analysis and retrospective data suggest potential benefits for a subset of good and intermediate-risk patients. Although currently used risk stratification tools guide CN eligibility, they have limitations, including, subjectivity, perioperative variability, and missing validation. Deferred CN may benefit patients responding to systemic treatment, whereas other patients may benefit from upfront CN. Emerging data supports the value of CN with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in selected patients, emphasizing the need for ongoing trials in the ICI era.

SUMMARY

The role and timing of CN in mRCC have evolved across therapeutic eras. Although awaiting prospective evidence in the current era of ICI, CN still has a role in the therapeutic approach for a subset of patients. The decision to recommend CN must be personalized and involve multidisciplinary discussions considering both patient- and tumor-related factors.

Outcome benefits of upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: An analysis of the TriNetX database

BACKGROUND

The role of upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy remains debatable in the present era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with upfront CN and modern systemic therapies.

METHODS

Using the TriNetX network database, we identified patients, in the period from 2008 to 2022, who were diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, receiving first-line systemic therapies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Their overall survivals were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method as well as multivariable regressions.

RESULTS

We identified 11,094 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Of them, 2,914 (43%) patients in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor cohort (n = 6,779), and 1,884 (43.7%) in the immune checkpoint inhibitors cohort (n = 4315) underwent upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy. Those receiving upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy showed survival advantages with either tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Hazard ratio 0.722, 95% Confidence interval 0.67-0.73, p<0.001) or immune checkpoint inhibitors (Hazard ratio 65.1, 95% Confidence interval 0.59-0.71, p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy was a factor for improved OS in both cohorts: tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Hazard ratio 0.623, 95% Confidence interval 0.56-0.694, p<0.001) and immune checkpoint inhibitors cohort (Hazard ratio 0.688, 95% Confidence interval 0.607-0.779, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy was associated with an improved overall survival for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving either first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Our results support a clinical role of upfront cytoreductive nephrectomy in the modern era.

Linear Muscle Segmentation for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Changes in Clinic-Friendly Estimation Predict Survival Following Cytoreductive Nephrectomy

INTRODUCTION

Baseline sarcopenia and postoperative changes in muscle mass are independently associated with overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN). Here we examine the relationships between preoperative (baseline), postoperative changes in muscle quantity, and survival outcomes following CN as determined by linear segmentation, a clinic-friendly tool that rapidly estimates muscle mass.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our nephrectomy database was reviewed for patients with metastatic disease who underwent CN for RCC. Linear segmentation of the bilateral psoas/paraspinal muscles was completed for baseline imaging within 60 days of surgery and imaging 30 to 365 days postoperatively. Kruskal-Wallis for numerical and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables were used to test for differences between groups according to percent change in linear muscle index (LMI, cm2/m2). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models evaluated associations between LMI percent change and cancer-specific (CSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM). Kaplan Meier curves estimated cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

From 2004-2020, 205 patients were included of whom 52 demonstrated stable LMI (25.4%; LMI change < 5% [0Δ]), 60 increase (29.3%; LMI +5% [+Δ]), and 92 decrease (44.9%; LMI -5% [-Δ]). Median time from baseline imaging to surgery was 18 days, and time from surgery to postoperative imaging was 133 days. Median CSS and OS were highest among patients with 0Δ LMI (CSS: 133.6 [0Δ] vs. 61.9 [+Δ] vs. 37.4 [-Δ] months; P = .0018 || OS: 67.2 [0Δ] vs. 54.8 [+Δ] vs. 29.5 [-Δ] months; P = .0007). Stable LMI was a protective factor for CSM (HR 0.48; P = .024) and ACM (HR 0.59; P = .040) on multivariable analysis.

DISCUSSION

Change in muscle mass after CN, as measured by the linear muscle segmentation technique, is independently associated with OS and CSS in patients following CN. Of note, lack of change was associated with longer survival.

Surgical outcomes of cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients receiving systemic immunotherapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

The use of systemic immune checkpoint blockade before surgery is increasing in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, however, the safety and feasibility of performing consolidative cytoreductive nephrectomy after the administration of systemic therapy are not well described.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of patients undergoing nephrectomy was performed using our prospectively maintained institutional database. Patients who received preoperative systemic immunotherapy were identified, and the risk of postoperative complications were compared to those who underwent surgery without upfront systemic treatment. Perioperative characteristics and surgical complications within 90 days following surgery were recorded.

RESULTS

Overall, we identified 220 patients who underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy from April 2015 to December 2022, of which 46 patients (21%) received systemic therapy before undergoing surgery. Unadjusted rates of surgical complications included 20% (n = 35) in patients who did not receive upfront systemic therapy and 20% (n = 9) in those who received upfront systemic immunotherapy. In our propensity score analysis, there was no statistically significant association between receipt of upfront immunotherapy and 90-day surgical complications [odds ratio (OR): 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59-5.14; P = 0.3]. This model, however, demonstrated an association between receipt of upfront immunotherapy and an increased odds of requiring a blood transfusion [OR: 4.53, 95% CI: 1.83-11.7; P = 0.001].

CONCLUSION

In our cohort, there was no significant difference in surgical complications among patients who received systemic therapy before surgery compared to those who did not receive upfront systemic therapy. Cytoreductive nephrectomy is safe and with low rates of complications following the use of systemic therapy.

Outcomes of Consolidative Nephrectomy following Primary Immunotherapy in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multicenter Analysis

BACKGROUND

To evaluate effect and outcomes of combination primary immunotherapy (IO) and nephrectomy for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, retrospective analysis of patients with advanced/metastatic RCC who received IO followed by nephrectomy. Primary outcome was Bifecta (negative surgical margins and no 30-day surgical complications). Secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS) following surgery, reduction in tumor/thrombus size, RENAL score, and clinical/pathologic downstaging. Cox regression multivariable analysis was conducted for predictors of Bifecta and PFS. Kaplan-Meier analysis assessed PFS, comparing Bifecta and non-Bifecta groups.

RESULTS

A total of 56 patients were analyzed (median age 63 years; median follow-up 22.5 months). A total of 40 (71.4%) patients were intermediate IMDC risk. Patients were treated with immunotherapy for median duration of 8.1 months. Immunotherapy resulted in reductions in tumor size (P < .001), thrombus size (P = .02), and RENAL score (P < .001); 38 (67.9%) patients were clinically downstaged on imaging (P < .001) and 25 (44.6%) patients were pathologically downstaged following surgery (P < .001). Bifecta was achieved in 38 (67.9%) patients. Predictors for bifecta achievement included decreasing tumor size (HR 1.08, P = .043) and pathological downstaging (HR 2.13, P = .047). Bifecta (HR 5.65, P = .009), pathologic downstaging (HR 5.15, P = .02), and increasing reduction in tumor size (HR 1.2, P = .007) were associated with improved PFS. Bifecta patients demonstrated improved 2-year PFS (84% vs. 71%, P = .019).

CONCLUSIONS

Primary immunotherapy reduced tumor/thrombus size and complexity. Pathologically downstaged patients were more likely to achieve bifecta, and these patients displayed improved 2-year PFS. Our study supports further inquiry in the use of CRN following primary immunotherapy for advanced renal cancer.

Adjuvant therapy for renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review of current landscape and future directions

The advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been transformative for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Their efficacy post-surgical resection remains a contentious point. Various phase 3 RCTs have assessed their potency. Amongst evaluated agents, sunitinib and pembrolizumab have demonstrated notable disease-free survival benefits. Sunitinib's potential is diminished due to absence of clear overall survival (OS) benefits and side-effect profile. Pembrolizumab shows better tolerance, conclusive OS data are forthcoming. This scenario underscores the pressing need for advanced risk stratification methods and discovery of novel biomarkers. Existing strategies, largely pre-dating TKI and ICI therapeutic era, lack sufficient accuracy in predicting relapse-risk. Our review offers a comprehensive analysis of key phase 3 RCTs, focusing on TKIs, mTOR-inhibitors, and ICIs for adjuvant RCC treatment. The intent is to shed light on the intricate landscape of RCC treatment, guiding future research directions for optimizing patient outcomes.

Complete response of metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus to nivolumab plus cabozantinib

Introduction

The effectiveness of nivolumab plus cabozantinib for metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus remains unclear.

Case presentation

A 77-year-old male was diagnosed with right papillary renal cell carcinoma with a metastatic lesion on Gerota's fascia, lymph node metastasis, and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. He was treated with nivolumab plus cabozantinib. As all lesions regressed enough to permit complete resection, radical nephrectomy, thrombectomy, and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection were performed. No viable malignant cells were identified histopathologically. Despite the discontinuation of nivolumab plus cabozantinib, there has been no recurrence for 9 months.

Conclusion

Nivolumab plus cabozantinib has effectiveness for metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.

Understanding and integrating cytoreductive nephrectomy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the management of metastatic RCC

Cytoreductive nephrectomy became accepted as standard of care for selected patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) because of improved survival observed in patients treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy in combination with interferon-α in two randomized clinical trials published in 2001. Over the past two decades, novel systemic therapies have shown higher treatment response rates and improved survival outcomes compared with interferon-α. During this rapid evolution of mRCC treatments, systemic therapies have been the primary focus of clinical trials. Results from multiple retrospective studies continue to suggest an overall survival benefit for selected patients treated with nephrectomy in combination with systemic mRCC treatments, with the notable exception of one debated clinical trial. The optimal timing for surgery is unknown, and proper patient selection remains crucial to improving surgical outcomes. As systemic therapies continue to evolve, clinicians have an increasing need to understand how to incorporate cytoreductive nephrectomy into the management of mRCC.

Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who receive immune-targeted therapy may derive survival benefit from nephrectomy

BACKGROUND

Nephrectomy, whether in the era of cytokine therapy or targeted therapy, has an important role in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. With the advent of immunotherapy, immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy has become the mainstream of systemic therapy, but the role of nephrectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma is unclear. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the impact of nephrectomy on survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received immune-targeted therapy.

METHODS

Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received immune-targeted therapy at three centers between May 17, 2019 and August 1, 2022 were collected, who were divided into two groups based on whether nephrectomy was performed or not. Survival, response rate and adverse event were compared between the two groups. The primary end point was progression free survival, Subgroup analysis and univariate and multivariable prognostic analyses were also assessed.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up time of 29.3 months (95% CI 28.5-30.2), 165 patients were recruited and divided into two groups based on whether they underwent nephrectomy or not. There were 68 patients in the non-nephrectomy group, 97 in the nephrectomy group. Compared to patients treated with immune-targeted therapy, patients treated with immune-targeted therapy plus nephrectomy were able to achieve survival benefits, with a median PFS of 10.8 months (95% CI 8.3-13.3) and 14.4 months (95% CI 12.6-16.2), respectively, as well as an HR of 0.476 (95% CI 0.323-0.701, p = 0.0002). The 12-month and 18-month PFS rates were 30.9% versus 60.8% and 7.4% versus 25.8%, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) was 52.9% and 60.8%, respectively, in the non-nephrectomy and nephrectomy groups (p = 0.313), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 75% and 83.5%, respectively (p = 0.179). The most common adverse events related to treatment were hypothyroidism, immune-related pneumonitis and rash. Multivariate analysis showed that primary tumor nephrectomy prior to immune-targeted therapy, clear cell renal carcinoma and oligo metastasis were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Nephrectomy may provide PFS benefit with tolerable safety for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who receive immune-targeted therapy. In multivariate analysis, nephrectomy, clear cell carcinoma, and oligo-organ metastasis were found to be favorable independent prognostic factors.

Comparison of upfront versus deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving systemic therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to conduct a pooled analysis to compare the outcomes of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received presurgical systemic therapy [(ST); including immunotherapy and/or targeted therapy] followed by cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) [(deferred CN; (dCN)] with those who underwent upfront CN (uCN) followed by ST.

METHODS

The present study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library database to identify eligible comparative studies up to April 2023. To evaluate their relevance, pooled hazard ratio with 95% CIs were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 3157 patients were included in nine studies. The dCN group was observed to be correlated with superior overall survival (OS) compared to the uCN group (hazard ratio =0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.89, P =0.003). Moreover, the authors conducted subgroup analyses according to the type of ST, sample size, sex, age, and risk score, and observed similar outcomes for OS across most subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study demonstrated that dCN may be associated with improved OS compared to uCN in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving ST. However, no significant differences were found between the uCN and dCN groups in the immunotherapy-based combinations subgroup. Further research is needed to confirm these results.

Role of Surgery in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Surgery has historically been the mainstay of treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), but recent clinical trials demonstrated that contemporary systemic therapies alone are non-inferior to cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN). Thus, the current role of surgery is not precisely defined. CN remains an appropriate upfront treatment for the palliation of severe symptoms, select cases of metastatic non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma, for consolidation following systemic therapy, and in the setting of oligometastatic disease. Metastasectomy is ideally utilized to achieve a disease-free state when there is minimal morbidity associated with surgery. Given the heterogenous nature of mRCC, the decision for systemic therapy and surgery should be made through a multidisciplinary approach tailored to each individual patient.

The Association Between Cytoreductive Nephrectomy and Overall Survival in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma with Primary Tumor Size ≤4 cm

BACKGROUND

It is unknown whether the survival benefit of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) applies to patients with primary tumor size ≤4 cm.

OBJECTIVE

To test the association between CN on overall survival (OS) of mRCC patients with primary tumor size ≤4 cm.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2006-2018), all mRCC patients with primary tumor size ≤4 cm were identified.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Propensity score matching (PSM), Kaplan-Meier plots, multivariable Cox regression analyses, and 6-mo landmark analyses addressed OS according to CN status. Sensitivity analyses examined specific populations of special interest: systemic therapy exposed versus naïve, clear-cell (ccmRCC) versus non-clear-cell (non-ccmRCC) mRCC histology, historical (2006-2012) versus contemporary (2013-2018), and young (≤65 yr) versus old (>65 yr) patients.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Of 814 patients, 387 (48%) underwent CN. After PSM, the median OS was 44 versus 7 mo (Δ = 37 mo; p < 0.001) in CN versus no-CN patients. CN was associated with higher OS in overall population (multivariable hazard ratio [HR]: 0.30; p < 0.001) as well as in landmark analyses (HR: 0.39; p < 0.001). In all sensitivity analyses, CN was independently associated with higher OS: systemic therapy exposed, HR: 0.38; systemic therapy naïve, HR: 0.31; ccmRCC, HR: 0.29; non-ccmRCC, HR: 0.37; historical, HR: 0.31; contemporary, HR: 0.30; young, HR: 0.23; and old, HR: 0.39 (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study validates the association between CN and higher OS in patients with primary tumor size ≤4 cm. This association is robust, controlled for immortal time bias, and valid across systemic treatment exposure, histologic subtypes, years of surgery, and patient age.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In the current study, we tested the association between cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) and overall survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and small primary tumor size. We found a strong association between CN and survival, which persists even after several significant variations in patient and tumor characteristics.

Cytoreductive nephrectomy in the age of immunotherapy-based combination treatment

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) displays a wide spectrum of oncological prognosis and clinical behavior, and is noted for its generally poor outcome in metastatic settings. However, the introduction of immunotherapy after the cytokine era has changed the landscape of treatment for metastatic RCC, outperforming previous targeted therapy and providing new hope for patients with advanced disease. Cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) has been the center of controversy, with questionable survival benefit when compared to systemic therapy. Despite discouraging results from the two randomized clinical trials (CARMENA & SURTIME), interest into the role of CN is being rekindled, and contemporary real-world studies provide supporting evidence to suggest that CN may still have a role in well-selected patients treated or expecting treatment with immunotherapy, not only for symptomatic control but also for oncological benefit. In this review article, we attempt to review the modern insight into the role of CN for metastatic RCC in contemporary medicine, with a focus on treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitor combination-based immunotherapy.

SEOM SOGUG clinical guideline for treatment of kidney cancer (2022)

Renal cancer is the seventh most common cancer in men and the tenth in women. The aim of this article is to review the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of renal carcinoma accompanied by recommendations with new evidence and treatment algorithms. A new pathologic classification of RCC by the World Health Organization (WHO) was published in 2022 and this classification would be considered a "bridge" to a future molecular classification. For patients with localized disease, surgery is the treatment of choice with nephron-sparing surgery recommended when feasible. Adjuvant treatment with pembrolizumab is an option for intermediate-or high-risk cases, as well as patients after complete resection of metastatic disease. More data are needed in the future, including positive overall survival data. Clinical prognostic classification, preferably IMDC, should be used for treatment decision making in mRCC. Cytoreductive nephrectomy should not be deemed mandatory in individuals with intermediate-poor IMDC/MSKCC risk who require systemic therapy. Metastasectomy can be contemplated in selected subjects with a limited number of metastases or long metachronous disease-free interval. For the population of patients with metastatic ccRCC as a whole, the combination of pembrolizumab-axitinib, nivolumab-cabozantinib, or pembrolizumab-lenvatinib can be considered as the first option based on the benefit obtained in OS versus sunitinib. In cases that have an intermediate IMDC and poor prognosis, the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab has demonstrated superior OS compared to sunitinib. As for individuals with advanced RCC previously treated with one or two antiangiogenic tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, nivolumab and cabozantinib are the options of choice. When there is progression following initial immunotherapy-based treatment, we recommend treatment with an antiangiogenic tyrosine-kinase inhibitor. While no clear sequence can be advocated, medical oncologists and patients should be aware of the recent advances and new strategies that improve survival and quality of life in the setting of metastatic RC.

Clinical factors for tumor response, progression, and survival in nivolumab for advanced renal cell carcinoma in the SNiP-RCC study

BACKGROUND

This study is part of the SNPs in Nivolumab PD-1 inhibitor for RCC (SNiP-RCC). Here we aimed to reveal clinical factors for tumor response, progression, and survival in nivolumab for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Japanese patients.

METHODS

We included patients from 23 institutions in Japan. We evaluated the objective response, radiographic progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related grade ≥ 3 (serious adverse events [SAEs]).

RESULTS

We included 222 patients. The median age was 69 years (interquartile range 62-74 years), and 71% of the patients were male. Pancreas metastasis, lung metastases, prior cytokine therapy, and SAEs, were associated with objective response. The median PFS was 18 months. Liver metastases (hazard ratio [HR], 1.61), age ≥ 75 (HR, 0.48), previous resection of primary sites (HR, 0.47), and SAEs (HR, 0.47) were independent prognostic factors for PFS. Karnofsky Performance Status <70 (HR, 2.90), high platelets (HR, 4.48), previous resection of primary sites (HR, 0.23), and pathological grade (HR, 0.19 for grade 2 and HR, 0.12 for grade 3) were independent prognostic factors for OS. SAEs were reported in 45 (20.3%) cases. In the group of patients with prior nephrectomy, SAEs were associated with objective response, PFS, and OS.

CONCLUSION

The SNiP-RCC study identified clinical parameters correlated with treatment outcomes in Japanese patients with priorly treated advanced clear cell RCC undergoing nivolumab monotherapy.

The Evolving Landscape of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been studied intensively over the past few decades. Interestingly, the opinion with regard to the importance of this procedure has switched from a recommendation as a standard of care to an almost complete refutation. However, no definitive agreement on cytoreductive nephrectomy, including the pros and cons of the procedure, has been reached, and the topic remains highly controversial. With the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors, we have experienced a paradigm shift, with immunotherapy playing a crucial role in the treatment algorithm. Nevertheless, obtaining results from prospective clinical trials on the role of cytoreductive nephrectomy requires time, and once some data have been gathered, the standards of systemic therapy may be different, and we stand again at the beginning. This review summarizes current knowledge on the topic in the light of newly evolving treatment strategies. The crucial point is to recognize who could be an appropriate candidate for immediate cytoreductive surgery that may facilitate the effect of systemic therapy through tumor debulking, or who might benefit from deferred cytoreduction in the setting of an objective response of the tumor. The role of prognostic factors in management decisions as well as the technical details associated with performing the procedure from a urological perspective are discussed. Ongoing clinical trials that may bring new evidence for transforming therapeutic paradigms are listed.

[First-line treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma]

In recent years the first-line treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma was revolutionized by the introduction of checkpoint inhibitors (CPI). Within a few years several combined modality treatments with CPI and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have proven to be effective and safe in the application. According to the guidelines, up to five different combined modality treatments can now be considered, depending on the risk profile. Based on the current data situation, a direct distinction between the treatments cannot be made as no comparative studies are available. Therefore, the decision for a particular treatment is often guided by individual factors. In particular, a clear processing of the patient with the respective risk factors and tumor identity is essential. Hence, it is all the more important to discuss complex cases in an interdisciplinary tumor board.

Pathological Outcomes of Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Who Receive Nephrectomy Following Immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Even though cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) was once the standard of care for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), its role in treatment has not been well analyzed or defined in the era of immunotherapy (IO).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study analyzed pathological outcomes in patients with advanced or metastatic RCC who received IO prior to CN. This was a multi-institutional, retrospective study of patients with advanced or metastatic RCC. Patients were required to receive IO monotherapy or combination therapy prior to radical or partial CN. The primary endpoint assessed surgical pathologic outcomes, including American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging and frequency of downstaging, at the time of surgery. Pathologic outcomes were correlated to clinical variables using a Wald-chi squared test from Cox regression in a multi-variable analysis. Secondary outcomes included objective response rate (ORR) defined by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 and progression-free survival (PFS), which were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with reported 95% CIs.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients from 9 sites were included. Most patients were male (65%), 81% had clear cell histology, 11% had sarcomatoid differentiation. Overall, 44% of patients experienced pathologic downstaging, and 13% had a complete pathologic response. The ORR immediately prior to nephrectomy was stable disease in 29% of patients, partial response in 63%, progressive disease in 4%, and 4% unknown. Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 25.3 months and median PFS was 3.5 years (95% CI, 2.1-4.9).

CONCLUSIONS

IO-based interventions prior to CN in patients with advanced or metastatic RCC demonstrates efficacy, with a small fraction of patients showing a complete response. Additional prospective studies are warranted to investigate the role of CN in the modern IO-era.

The progress on the relationship between gut microbiota and immune checkpoint blockade in tumors

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has emerged as a promising immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of various tumors. However, the efficacy of this therapy is limited in a subset of patients, and it is important to develop strategies to enhance immune responses. Studies have demonstrated a critical role of gut microbiota in regulating the therapeutic response to ICB. Gut microbiota composition, diversity, and function are mediated by metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids, that interact with host immune cells through specific receptors. In addition, gut bacteria may translocate to the tumor site and stimulate antitumor immune responses. Therefore, maintaining a healthy gut microbiota composition, for instance through avoiding the use of antibiotics or probiotic interventions, can be an effective approach to optimize ICB therapy. This review summarizes the current understanding of the microbiota-immunity interactions in the context of ICB therapy, and discusses potential clinical implications of these findings.

State of the Art: Multidisciplinary Management of Oligometastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma (OM-RCC) refers to patients who have limited (typically up to 5) metastatic lesions. Although management principles may overlap, OM-RCC is distinguishable from oligoprogressive RCC, which describes progression of disease to a limited number of sites while receiving systemic therapy. Cytoreductive nephrectomy and metastasectomy are common surgical considerations in OM-RCC, and indications are discussed in this review. It is evident that stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is effective in RCC and is being applied increasingly in the oligometastatic setting. Finally, we will review advances in systemic therapy and the role of active surveillance before the initiation of systemic therapy.

Two is company, is three a crowd? Triplet therapy, novel molecular targets, and updates on the management of advanced renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to highlight the most recent changes in the management of advanced renal cell carcinoma, a complicated and ever-changing field of research.

RECENT FINDINGS

A recent meta-analysis examining combination therapy favors nivolumab plus cabozantinib as the overall survival leader in doublet therapy. Initial results on the first ever trial of triplet therapy have demonstrated improved progression-free survival over current standard of care. The hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) inhibitor belzutifan is FDA approved for patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease and is currently being investigated in patients with nonhereditary renal cell carcinoma. The new glutamate synthesis inhibitor, telaglenastat, perhaps confers synergistic benefit when combined with everolimus, but combination with cabozantinib was not so effective. Dual mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition with sapanisertib does not appear to be an effective therapeutic option. New biomarkers and targets are actively being investigated. Four recent trials examining alternative agents to pembrolizumab in the adjuvant setting did not demonstrate an improvement in recurrence-free survival. Cytoreductive nephrectomy in the combination therapy era is supported by retrospective data; clinical trials are recruiting patients.

SUMMARY

The last year ushered in novel approaches of varying success for managing advanced renal cell carcinoma, including triplet therapy, HIF-2α inhibitors, metabolic pathway inhibitors, and dual mTOR inhibitors. Pembrolizumab remains the only modern therapy available in the adjuvant setting, and the waters surrounding cytoreductive nephrectomy are still murky.

Cytoreductive Nephrectomy and Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

In the past decades, several treatments have been proposed for the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Among these, cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) represents a controversial and open issue in the era of targeted therapy and novel immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Two important studies, CARMENA and SURTIME, analyzed therapy with sunitinib with or without CN, and immediate CN followed by sunitinib versus a deferred CN after three cycles of sunitinib, respectively. CARMENA showed the non-inferiority of sunitinib alone versus sunitinib plus CN, whereas SURTIME showed no difference in progression-free survival (PFS), but a better median OS among patients with deferred CN. Therefore, more prospective clinical trials and appropriate patient identification are necessary to support CN in this new scenario. This review provides a snapshot of the current evidence for CN in mRCC, discusses the management strategies, and offers perspectives on the direction of future research.

The impact of cytoreductive nephrectomy on survival outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving immunotherapy: An evidence-based analysis of comparative outcomes

Purpose

The prognostic impact of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in the era of immunotherapy is yet to be determined. The aim of our study is to evaluate the correlation between CN and outcomes in the setting of mRCC treated with immunotherapy.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of the Science, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies published in English up to December 2022. The results were presented as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) was extracted to assess their relevance. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022383026).

Results

A total of 2397 patients were included in eight studies. The CN group was observed to be correlated with superior OS compared to the No CN group (HR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.39–0.71, p &lt; 0.0001). Subgroup analysis according to the type of immunotherapy, sample size, and treatment line of immune checkpoint inhibitor revealed that CN group had a superior OS in all subgroups.

Conclusion

CN is associated with a better outcome in terms of OS benefit in selected patients with mRCC treated by immunotherapy, but further studies are required to verify the conclusions.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022383026.

Comparative real-world survival outcomes of metastatic papillary and clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and combination therapy

INTRODUCTION

While there are a plethora of studies supporting novel treatment approaches in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), much of the data used to inform care of patients with metastatic papillary RCC (pRCC) is extrapolated from ccRCC. Several recent phase III trials have supported the use of immunotherapy (IO) and targeted therapy (TT)+IO in ccRCC, without corresponding data for pRCC. Using ccRCC as a comparison group, we sought to describe real-world trends in the utilization of systemic therapy and its impact on overall survival (OS) among patients with metastatic pRCC.

METHODS

Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we identified cases of metastatic pRCC and ccRCC between 2015 and 2018. Patients were stratified into groups based on histology and first-line treatments (TT, IO, TT + IO). Differences in baseline characteristics were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables, and the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and multivariable Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 6,920 patients with a diagnosis of metastatic RCC were identified: 594 (8.6%) with pRCC and 6,326 (91.4%) with ccRCC. Overall, 4,710 patients received TT (455 pRCC and 4,255 ccRCC), 1,585 received IO (77 pRCC and 1,508 ccRCC), and 625 received TT+IO (62 pRCC and 563 ccRCC). Temporal trend between 2015 and 2018 revealed an increased utilization of IO and TT + IO for pRCC and ccRCC. In patients with metastatic pRCC, neither IO (HR 1.03; 95% CI 0.75-1.42) nor TT+IO (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.63-1.28) were associated with better OS compared to TT alone. In contrast, both IO and combination TT and IO were associated with significantly better OS than TT for patients with metastatic ccRCC (IO group: hazard ratio [HR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.82; TT+IO group: HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.93). Cytoreductive nephrectomy was associated with better OS in both pRCC (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.77) and ccRCC (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.50-0.58).

CONCLUSIONS

Although IO and TT + IO were associated with better OS among patients with metastatic ccRCC, this same effect was not observed among patients with pRCC.

Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: From Biology to Treatment

The majority of kidney cancers are detected incidentally and typically diagnosed at a localized stage, however, the development of regional or distant disease occurs in one-third of patients. Over 90% of kidney tumors are renal cell carcinomas, of which, clear cell is the most predominate histologic subtype. Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) gene alterations result in the overexpression of growth factors that are central to the pathogenesis of clear cell carcinoma. The therapeutic strategies have revolved around this tumor suppressor gene and have led to the approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) axis. The treatment paradigm shifted with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and programed death-1 (PD-1) inhibition, leading to durable response rates and improved survival. Combinations of TKI and/or ICIs have become the standard of care for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), changing the outlook for patients, with several new and promising therapeutic targets under development.