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Introduction
Kidney cancer is a rare disease accounting for approximately 3.8% of all new malignancies [1], and renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) comprise approximately 85% of kidney tumors [2]. One of the standard treatments for non-metastatic RCCs, especially those in the advanced stage, is radical nephrectomy (RN) [3]. However, 5%–15% of patients who undergo RN experience disease recurrences and among high-risk patients, even higher recurrence rates (up to 35%–40%) have been reported [4,5]. Therefore, there is an increasing need for effective adjuvant therapies among these patients. However, despite ongoing clinical trials, no standardized adjuvant therapy currently exists [3].
Although distant metastasis is the main pattern of RCC recurrence after RN, locoregional recurrence (LRR) is a significant recurrence pattern in patients with risk factors, including those diagnosed with locally advanced disease [6]. In addition, patients who develop LRR after RN show a dismal prognosis because salvage treatments are not feasible in many cases [6]. To reduce the incidence of LRR, extended locoregional therapies secondary to RN such as regional lymph node dissection (LND) or local adjuvant therapy are considered for high-risk patients. However, there are no established strategies to reduce the incidences LRRs other than RN [3,7]. For LND, no consensus currently exists on its indication, value, or extent in patients with RCC [8,9]. In contrast, the role of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in RCC has been investigated in previous trials and proven to be negative [10,11]. However, these negative results may have resulted from the heterogeneity in previous study populations, which included patients with early stage RCC who were at low risk for LRR after RN [10–12]. Therefore, careful investigation of risk factors for LRR after RN is needed to suggest the potential indication of the extended treatment. Furthermore, the adequate extent of locoregional therapy must be established according to the patterns of LRR after RN so that high-risk LRR could be specifically managed and redundant toxicity from unnecessary treatment could be avoided. In this study, we investigated the prognostic value, risk factors, and patterns of LRR after RN in patients with locally advanced RCC to recommend the potential indications and adequate extent of locoregional therapy in high-risk patients.
Materials and Methods
1. Patients
The inclusion criteria of this study were as follows: (1) RN for RCC, (2) non-metastatic RCC, (3) pathologic T3 or T4 category, (4) no neoadjuvant treatment, and (5) no other uncontrolled malignancy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 948 patients who underwent RN for RCC from January 2006 to January 2016. Among them, 703 patients were excluded due to the presence of metastasis (n=120), pathologic T1 or T2 category (n=563), neoadjuvant treatment (n=4), follow-up loss (n=3), and other uncontrolled malignancy (n=13). In total, 245 patients were included in the analyses.
2. Treatments
The RNs were performed via open surgery (n=116), conventional laparoscopic surgery (n=89), or hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (n=40). According to the surgeon’s decision, LND or lymph node sampling was performed in 85 patients. Adjuvant systemic agents were administered to 12 patients (pazopanib, n=4; axitinib, n=8).
3. Statistical analyses
Locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS) were defined as the interval from RN to LRR, distant metastasis, and death or the last follow-up (if no relevant event occurred), respectively. LRRs were defined as the recurrences in area of kidney beds and the regional lymph nodes including renal hilar, precaval, paracaval, retrocaval, interaortocaval, and paraaortic lymph nodes. The boundary of regional lymphatic area was considered from the diaphragmatic aortic hiatus to the upper border of the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) longitudinally and around the renal vein, inferior vena cava (IVC) and abdominal aorta with 10 mm margin laterally and antero-posteriorly [12–14]. The survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used for univariate analyses. Cox regression was used in multivariate analyses of variables with p ≤ 0.200 in the univariate analysis. Phi and Cramer’s V were calculated for evaluation of collinearities among the variables to exclude inappropriate variables for the multivariate analyses. A two-sided p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).
4. Anatomical mapping of LRR
An abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scan of a control patient without RCC was used as reference image. First, we marked the celiac axis (CA), superior mesenteric artery, and IMA on the reference CT scan. Then, we mapped all LRRs manually at the equivalent locations on the reference CT scan considering the anatomical relations to the locations of the pre-RN kidney, vessels, and adjacent muscles. To reduce volume effects, each LRR was transformed to a 5-mm point at the epicenter of the recurrent tumor. Registration of CT images and LRR mapping were performed using Pinnacle TPS (Philips Radiation Oncology System, Fitchburg, WI).
Results
1. Patients’ characteristics
Patient demographics are summarized in Table 1. The patients’ median age was 58 years (range, 15 to 91 years). The median longest tumor diameter was 7.0 cm (range, 2 to 18 cm). Only one patient (0.4%) had RCC of clear cell type with cystic change. The median follow-up duration was 56 months (range, 1 to 128 months).
2. Treatment outcomes
The 5-year actuarial rates of LRC, DMFS, and OS were 89.8%, 60.4%, and 82.1%, respectively (Fig. 1). The median time of LRR was 14 months (range, 2 to 54 months). The patterns of the first recurrence are shown in the S1 Table, which shows the rates of overall LRR (6.9%) and distant recurrence as the first recurrence event (38.3%). Seven of the 10 regional recurrences occurred in patients who did not undergo LND or lymph node sampling during RN. LRR as the first recurrence event was significantly associated with actuarial rates of subsequent distant metastasis (p=0.003) and survival (p < 0.001) (Fig. 2).
The results of univariate and multivariate analyses for LRC are presented in Table 2. Tumor extension to renal vessels or the IVC (p=0.036) and Fuhrman’s nuclear grade IV (p=0.014) were identified as independent risk factors associated with LRC in the multivariate analyses. The 5-year actuarial LRR rates in groups with no risk factor (low-risk), one risk factor (intermediate-risk), and two risk factors (high-risk) were 2.3%, 19.8%, and 30.8%, respectively (p < 0.001) (Fig. 3). The 5-year DMFS rates were calculated as 71.5%, 45.8%, and 39.5% in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively (p < 0.001) (Fig. 3). The 5-year OS rates were also significantly different among the risk groups, with values of 91.6%, 72.9%, and 71.5% in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively (p=0.004) (Fig. 3).
3. Anatomical mapping of LRR
The anatomical map of LRR is shown in Fig. 4. The LRR sites in patients with a right-side RCC were the aortocaval area (n=2), retrocaval area (n=3), and tumor bed (n=9). In the tumor bed, LRR occurred at sites adjacent to muscles, including the back muscle (n=4) and crus (n=4), except in one patient with a primary right RCC invading the IVC, in whom the LRR occurred inside the IVC. In contrast, the LRR sites in patients with left-side RCC were the paraaortic area (n=4), retrocaval area (n=2), and tumor bed (near the adjacent psoas muscle or crus) (n=2). No LRR was observed above the CA or below the IMA.
Discussion
Previous studies have reported that the incidence of LRR after RN for RCC ranges from 1.8% to 27% [15]. These diverse outcomes have resulted from the heterogeneity in disease status, such as stage and histologic grade [6]. The LRR rates following RN in patients with early stage RCC were reported to be around or less than 5%, whereas higher LRR rates (over 30%) were reported in those with locally advanced RCC [6,15,16]. In the present study, the 5-year actuarial LRR rate was 10.2%. Furthermore, our study showed that LRR as the first recurrence event is significantly associated with subsequent distant metastasis or death. Therefore, efforts to reduce the incidence of LRR after RN for locally advanced RCC should be made in patients with risk factors, despite distant metastasis being the main pattern of recurrence after RN for locally advanced RCC [15,17].
Previous reports have suggested several predictive models for the risk of RCC relapse following surgical resection, with the predictor variables including pathological stage, nuclear grade and presence of necrosis, major dimensions of the tumor, and/or performance status [18–21]. However, these variables are related not only to LRR but also to distant metastasis. Little research has been conducted on prognosticators associated with LRR alone. This is probably because LRR is not the major failure pattern of RCC following RN, as evidenced by the 5-year rate of LRR as the first recurrence event of 10.2% in our study. However, LRR could be a concern in patients with certain risk factors. In the present study, tumor extension to renal vessels or the IVC and Fuhrman’s nuclear grade IV were identified as independent risk factors. As seen in the groups categorized using meaningful risk factors, the LRR rates in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 2.3%, 19.8%, and 30.8%, respectively. Jhavar et al. [6] have suggested that larger tumor size, stage III/IV, Fuhrman’s nuclear grade, tumor invasion of the renal vein, perinephric fat invasion, and the combinations of these factors were associated with LRR following RN for RCC. Previous predictive models included pathologic staging with broad subcategories [18–21]; careful risk stratification according to staging subcategories would be necessary for the selection of LRR risk groups, because the impact of LRR in each subcategory could be different.
To reduce LRR rates after RN, LND could be performed during RN. Previous studies on the role of LND during surgery for RCC showed conflicting results [22]. Furthermore, the only prospective study comparing nephrectomy alone and nephrectomy with LND failed to demonstrate the benefit of LND in cancer control [23]. However, the characteristics of patients included in this study were heterogenous, and a significant proportion of the participants had early stage and low grade disease, which has negligible LRR risk [24]. In contrast, LND is potentially beneficial to patients with larger tumors, locally advanced disease, high Fuhrman grade, sarcomatoid features, or tumor necrosis [22]. Adjuvant RT is another tool that could considerably enhance LRC after RN. Reports about the role of adjuvant RT after RN in improving LRC and survival are limited. Early prospective clinical trials have evaluated the role of adjuvant RT after nephrectomy for RCC and showed no benefit of RT for local tumor control and high treatment related mortality [10,11]. However, the inclusion criteria in these studies was a point of criticism because the study population included some low-risk patients with stage II RCC who exhibited low LRR rates after nephrectomy alone. In contrast to these earlier clinical trials, several retrospective studies have recently reported the benefits of adjuvant RT for RCC [25–29]. From the results, Tunio et al. [30] suggested a new trial to evaluate adjuvant RT in patients with RCC using the following eligibility criteria: tumor size > 5 cm, positive margins or postoperative gross residual disease, perinephric fat invasion, capsule infiltration, renal vein or IVC invasion, lymph node metastasis, and/or high grade histology. These criteria include risk factors identified in our study as well as those identified in the study by Jhavar et al. [6]. However, to develop a more robust indication for LND or adjuvant RT, a large-scale study to analyze the risk factors of LRR after RN for RCC is required.
In addition to potential indications, the scope of extended locoregional therapy is another issue. Campi et al. [12] reported an overview of the most commonly dissected templates in LND for RCC based on previously published work. The authors described that for right-sided tumors, LND mostly included the renal hilar, paracaval, and precaval nodes, whereas for left-sided tumors, the renal hilar, preaortic, and paraaortic nodes were included. The most commonly proposed extension was from the crus of the diaphragm to the aortic bifurcation longitudinally. However, considering the LRR map in our study, the suggested area for LND is beyond the scope of LRR, since no LRR above the CA or below the IMA was reported. In addition to evaluating LND, Tunio et al. [30] proposed the target volume for adjuvant RT as follows: the renal bed from the upper pole to lower pole level of the opposite kidney and lymph nodes only if lymph node metastasis is histologically confirmed. However, considering our LRR map, the sites of LRR were not distributed in the entire renal bed but only in the tumor bed near adjacent muscles. The delineation of area at the tumor before RN, concerning the adjacent muscle, seems to be sufficient for the target volume of tumor bed. Furthermore, 70% of regional recurrences as the first recurrence occurred in the patients who had not undergone histological confirmation of lymph node metastases. Therefore there are discrepancies between the previously suggested scope for extended locoregional therapy (such as additional LND or adjuvant RT) and the LRR map in the present study. Recommendations on adequate scope may need to be revised based on the locational distribution of LRRs after RN for RCC.
There are several limitations to the present study. First, this was a retrospective study, and thus, some selection biases cannot be completely eliminated. Second, the sample sizes for some of the variables were so small that the observed statistical significance for the association with LRC may not always hold true. In conclusion, tumor extension to renal vessels or the IVC and/or Fuhrman’s nuclear grade IV are the independent risk factors associated with LRR after RN for pathologic T3–4 RCC. The locations of LRR after RN for RCC were distributed in the tumor bed and regional lymphatic area from the bifurcation of CA to that of the IMA. Further research may be needed to confirm the role of LND or adjuvant RT in reducing the LRR rate and improving survival after RN for locally advanced RCC.
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