Concordance between renal tumour biopsy and robotic-assisted partial and radical nephrectomy histology: a 10-year experience

We aimed to assess concordance between renal tumour biopsy (RTB) and surgical pathology from robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) or robotic-assisted radical nephrectomy (RARN). Patients with preoperative RTB undergoing RAPN or RARN for suspected malignancy (9 September 2013-9 September 2023) were enrolled retrospectively from three sites. Patients were excluded if the tumour had prior cryotherapy or if biopsy or nephrectomy histology were unavailable or inconclusive. The primary outcome was concordance with the presence/absence of malignancy. Secondary outcomes were concordance with tumour subtype, World Health Organisation nuclear grade (patients with RTB clear cell or papillary RCC only), false-negative rate, false-positive rate, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). In the enrolment period, 332 and 132 patients underwent RAPN and RARN, respectively. Of these, 160 received preoperative RTB, with nine patients excluded, leaving 151 eligible patients. Median age was 63 years, and 49 (32%) were female. On surgical specimens, 144 patients had malignant histology. RTB was highly concordant with presence/absence of malignancy (147/151, 97%). Concordance with tumour subtype occurred in 141 patients (93%), while concordance with nuclear grade was seen in 42/66 patients (64%, RTB grade missing in 53 patients). False-negative rate, false-positive rate, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 2%, 14%, 98%, 86%, 99%, and 67%, respectively. Limitations include absence of complication data and exclusion of patients biopsied without surgery. In patients undergoing RAPN or RARN, preoperative RTB has high concordance with surgical pathology, both in the presence of malignancy and RCC subtype.

A North-West London Experience of the Impact of Treatment Related Toxicity on Clinical Outcomes of Elderly Patients with Germ Cell Tumors

Background/Aim: The occurrence of germ cell tumour (GCT) in the elderly is rare, with scarce data available. The aim of this study was to understand the clinical outcomes of patients with GCT in patients aged > 45 years. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a large tertiary cancer centre in north-west London. Between 1 January 2003 and 31 March 2022, 108 cases of GCT in men aged > 45 years were identified and treated at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. The median age at diagnosis was 54 years (range = 45−70 years). Results: The 5-year survival rate of all patients was 96%, and the toxicity profile was similar to the younger age group. Conclusion: Older patients with GCT are able to tolerate chemotherapy; however, care must be taken to prevent life-threatening complications using appropriate dose modification.

254 Driving Improvement for Testicular Cancer Patients within a Urology Unit at a District General Hospital

Aim

Assess the proportion of patients undergoing: (1) Preoperative assessment of the testicle, including serum tumour markers (STM) and testicular ultrasound (US), (2) Orchidectomy within 3 weeks of US diagnosis, and (3) Radiological staging (CT) within 3 weeks of surgery.

Method

Patients who had a radical inguinal orchidectomy for probable testicular malignancy were identified, between January and October 2021, via the electronic theatre system. Clinical data, including blood results, imaging, and histopathology, were obtained via the ICE reporting system.

Results

21 patients underwent orchidectomy during the 10-month period. The median age was 37 (26–89) with the majority (81%) presenting with a painless testicular lump. On final histopathology, 11 (52.3%) demonstrated classical seminoma and 6 (28.6%) a mixed germ cell tumour. Testicular US was performed on all patients prior to surgery and 95.2% had the full complement of STM taken. Unfortunately, the Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in 65% of these patients had haemolysed. The mean time from US diagnosis to orchidectomy was 20.1 days (4–29), with 66.6% of patients operated on within 3 weeks. A staging CT was performed on 84.6% of patients within 3 weeks of surgery.

Conclusions

Delays from testicular cancer diagnosis to surgery can impact on both disease stage and ultimately outcome. Following local presentation of our results, whilst liaising with biochemistry, various factors have been addressed to help mitigate the risk of STM sample haemolysis (including sample drawing, transport, and processing). In addition, a more formal pathway has since been instigated to ensure patients are undergoing orchidectomy in a timely fashion.

A comparison of cytoreductive and non-cytoreductive management strategies for nephron-sparing approaches to tumours in solitary kidneys

INTRODUCTION

Tumours in a solitary kidney pose challenges in management. Metastatic tumours and those in difficult locations complicate treatment further. The advent of immunotherapy has shed new light on the management of such tumours. We present a series of three cases treated with nephron-sparing surgery following neoadjuvant immunotherapy and compare the outcomes with patients who underwent robotic partial nephrectomy in a solitary kidney.

METHODS

We present the outcomes of three patients with solitary kidney tumours who underwent delayed nephron-sparing surgery following good response to immunotherapy. All patients had solitary kidney following a previous nephrectomy, two of which were nonmetastatic but, due to size/location, not amenable to primary treatment; the third patient had metastatic disease and responded to immunotherapy. Two patients underwent robotic partial nephrectomy and one opted for cryotherapy. We compared the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative parameters of the two patients who underwent robotic cytoreductive partial with patients who underwent robotic partial nephrectomy in a solitary kidney.

RESULTS

Out of 231 partial nephrectomy patients in our centre, 2 underwent cytoreductive partial nephrectomy and 5 underwent solitary partial nephrectomy. There was no statistically significant difference in the patient demographics in the two groups. Patients in both groups had comparable operative time, warm ischaemia time, blood loss and length of stay. Two of the five patients in the non-cytoreductive robotic partial nephrectomy had Clavien Dindo 1 complications compared with one patient in the robotic cytoreductive partial nephrectomy group. This was not statically significant.

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy can play a valuable role in shrinking renal tumours in solitary kidneys to facilitate robotic partial nephrectomies. There were no significant differences in the intra- and postoperative parameters in patients who underwent cytoreductive partial nephrectomy when compared with patients undergoing robotic solitary partial nephrectomy.

A single center experience of the impact of treatment-related toxicity in the clinical outcomes of elderly patients with metastatic germ cell tumors

e16048

Background: Germ cell tumours (GCT) are predominantly a disease of the young, with < 10% of cases being diagnosed at ≥45 years. Platinum based chemotherapy is the gold standard in treating these patients. Data regarding outcomes and treatment toxicities in elderly patients is lacking. We studied the efficacy, toxicities and survival rates in a cohort of men diagnosed with GCT aged ≥45 years receiving chemotherapy in a metastatic setting. Methods: Data was collected retrospectively from 48 patient’s ≥45 years with GCT’s identified at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, London. The histology, stage and international germ cell consensus (IGCC) risk classification was identified in all patients. Data was collected regarding chemotherapy regimens, number of cycles completed, toxicities and complications that led to treatment modifications or early cessation. Treatment toxicities were evaluated using the common terminology criteria for adverse events (ctCAE) grading. We then assessed progression free survival, relapse rates and overall survival (OS). Results: We identified 48 patients diagnosed with GCTs aged ≥45 years. The median age at diagnosis was 52 (range 45-70) and 75% of patients were aged ≥50. Classic seminoma and nonseminomatous GCTs were seen in 65% and 35% of patients, respectively. 75% of patients were ≥stage II at diagnosis. In total 29 patients received BEP, 4 EP, 7 Carboplatin AUC10, 2 Carboplatin AUC7 and 5 received POMBACE. 73 % (35/48) of patients experienced one or more complication/s from chemotherapy (15/48 ctCAE grade ≥3), of which the most common were neuropathies (27%), thromboembolism (10%) and tinnitus (10%). In 8 cases omissions or dose reductions had to be made and treatment delays occurred in 3 cases. Only 2 patients did not complete all intended cycles. Over 70% (35/48) of patients had an OS of > 5 years. One patient died during chemotherapy due to gastro-intestinal bleed. Conclusions: Survival rates in patients with GCTs aged ≥45 treated with chemotherapy are good with the majority achieving a > 5 year OS. Although age is not a prognostic factor, these patients are more prone to toxicities and have underlying comorbidities. This data will be of value to oncologists weighing up the risks versus benefits of treatment in this older cohort of patients in combination with similar studies.

Comparison of methods to identify significant proteinuria in pregnancy in the outpatient setting

The efficacy of the albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) measurement in detection of significant proteinuria when performed in a high-risk antenatal clinic was compared with automated dipstick, protein/creatinine ratio (PCR), and 24-hour urine protein measurements. Both the ACR (DCA 2000) and PCR were strongly predictive for the presence or absence of significant proteinuria, with positive likelihood ratios (LRs) of 27.4 and 31.6 and negative LRs of 0.0 and 0.1, respectively. Both the ACR (DCA 2000) and PCR are effective tests for both identifying and excluding significant proteinuria in the outpatient setting. The ACR (DCA 2000) has the advantage of providing an immediate result.