Upstaging to pT3a disease in patients undergoing robotic partial nephrectomy for cT1 kidney cancer: Outcomes and predictors from a multi-institutional dataset.

Surgically treated clinical T1 (cT1) kidney cancer has in general a good prognosis, but there is a risk of upstaging that can potentially jeopardize the oncological outcomes after partial nephrectomy (PN). Aim of this study is to analyze the outcomes of robot-assisted PN (RAPN) for cT1 kidney cancer upstaged to pT3a, and to identify predictors of upstaging.

The study cohort included 1,640 cT1 patients who underwent RAPN between 2005 and 2018 at 10 academic institutions. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess the predictors of upstaging. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate recurrence-free survival and overall survival.

Overall, 74 (4%) were upstaged cases (cT1/pT3a). Upstaged patients presented larger renal tumors (3.1 vs. 2.4 cm; P = 0.001), and higher R.E.N.A.L. score (8.0 vs. 6.0; P = 0.004). cT1/pT3a group had higher rate of intraoperative complications (5 vs. 1% P = 0.032), higher pathological tumor size (3.2 vs. 2.5 cm; P < 0.001), higher rate of Fuhrman grade ≥3 (32 vs. 17%; P = 0.002), and higher number of sarcomatoid differentiation (4 vs. 1%; P = 0.008). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage ≥3 (OR: 2.54; P < 0.014), and clinical tumor size (OR: 1.07; P < 0.001) were independent predictors of upstaging. cT1/pT3a group had worse 2-year (94% vs. 99%) recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001).

Upstaging to pT3a in patients with cT1 renal mass undergoing RAPN represents an uncommon event, involving less than 5% of cases. Pathologic upstaging might translate into worse oncological outcomes, and therefore strict follow-up protocols should be applied in these cases.

Urologic oncology. 2020 Jan 16 [Epub ahead of print]

Alessandro Veccia, Alessandro Antonelli, Andrea Minervini, Alexandre Mottrie, Paolo Dell'Oglio, Akbar N Ashrafi, Alessandro Larcher, Daniel Eun, Aaron Bradshaw, Daniele Amparore, Aldo Brassetti, Lance J Hampton, Claudio Simeone, Andrea Mari, Marco Carini, Geert De Naeyer, Kevin Yang, Umberto Capitanio, Giuseppe Simone, Francesco Porpiglia, Ithaar Derweesh, Monish Aron, Riccardo Autorino

Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, VCU Health System, Richmond, VA; Urology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Science, and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy., Department of Urology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy., Department of Urology, University of Florence, Careggi Hospital, Firenze, Italy., Department of Urology, OLV Ziekenhuis, Aalst-Asse-Ninove, Belgium and ORSI Academy, Melle, Belgium., USC Institute of Urology, Catherine and Joseph Aresty Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA., Unit of Urology, Division of Experimental Oncology, Urological Research Institute (URI), IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy., Department of Urology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA., Department of Urology, UC San Diego Health System, La Jolla, CA., Department of Urology, University of Turin, "San Luigi Gonzaga" Hospital, Turin, Italy., Department of Urology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy., Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, VCU Health System, Richmond, VA., Urology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Science, and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy., Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, VCU Health System, Richmond, VA. Electronic address: .