Radiotherapy (RT) represents a treatment option for small renal masses with proven feasibility and tolerability. However, it has never been directly compared to partial nephrectomy (PN) with cancer-specific mortality (CSM) as an endpoint.
Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004-2020), we identified T1aN0M0 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients treated with RT or PN. We relied on 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) for age, tumor size and histology. Subsequently, cumulative incidence plots and multivariable competing risks regression (CRR) models were fitted. The same methodology was then re-applied to a subset of patients with tumor size 21-40 mm.
Of 40,355 patients with T1aN0M0 RCC, 40,262 underwent PN (99.8%) vs 93 underwent RT (0.2%). RT patients were older (median age 72 vs 60 years, p < 0.001) and harbored larger tumor size (median size 28 vs 25 mm, p < 0.001) and a higher proportion of non-clear cell RCC (49% vs 22%, p < 0.001). After 1:1 PSM (92 RT versus 92 PN patients), cumulative incidence plots' derived CSM was 21.3 vs 4%, respectively. In multivariable CRR models, RT independently predicted higher CSM (hazard ratio (HR) 4.3, p < 0.001). In the subgroup with tumor size 21-40 mm, after 1:1 PSM (72 RT versus 72 PN patients), cumulative incidence plots derived CSM was 21.3% vs 4%, respectively. In multivariable CRR models, RT also independently predicted higher CSM (HR 4.7, p = 0.001).
In T1aN0M0 RCC patients, relative to PN, RT is associated with significantly higher absolute and relative CSM, even in patients with tumor size 21-40 mm.
World journal of urology. 2024 Mar 26*** epublish ***
Mario de Angelis, Simone Morra, Lukas Scheipner, Carolin Siech, Letizia Maria Ippolita Jannello, Andrea Baudo, Jordan A Goyal, Zhe Tian, Nicola Longo, Sascha Ahyai, Ottavio de Cobelli, Felix K H Chun, Fred Saad, Shahrokh F Shariat, Luca Carmignani, Francesco Montorsi, Alberto Briganti, Pierre I Karakiewicz
Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, Division of Urology, University of Montréal Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada. ., Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, Division of Urology, University of Montréal Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada., Department of Neurosciences, Science of Reproduction and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy., Department of Urology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria., Department of Urology, IEO European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, Milan, Italy., Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany., Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Department of Urology, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy., Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI; IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.