Keywords
Renal cell carcinoma; Tumour thrombus; Prognostic factors
Abstract
Background: There has been a large set of studies on potential prognostic factors in patients with renal cell carcinoma and venous tumour thrombus. However, the epidemiological evidence for the effect on survival of many them has not been consistent. Therefore, we conducted a literature review of the studies on the prognostic factors in patients with renal cancer and tumour thrombus extending into the venous system to identify determinants with the strongest predicting potential.
Methods: We performed a literature review by searching the PubMed database for articles published from its inception until November 2015 based on clinical relevanc
Results: There have been several anatomical, histological, clinical and molecular prognostic factors identified in patients with the renal cell carcinoma and tumour thrombus. Anatomical factors of the highest prognostic potential include extent of tumour thrombus, venous wall cancer invasion, and metastases to the regional lymph nodes or distant organs. Whereas the most important histological prognostic factors include renal cell carcinoma subtype, tumour grade and presence of tumour necrosis, sarcomatoid features, microvascular, as well as the renal collecting system cancer invasion. Both clinical and molecular determinants have received a very limited amount of attention in terms of prognostic usefulness in renal cell carcinoma patients with tumour thrombus.
Conclusion: Although several anatomical, histological, clinical and molecular factors have been associated with the prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma and venous tumour thrombus, in majority of cases the evidence is based on retrospective and limited in size studies. Therefore, further multicetre and prospective studies are needed to better understand determinants negatively affecting outcome in patients with renal cell carcinoma and tumour thrombus.
Citation
Golabek T, Bukowczan J, Przydacz M and Chlosta PL. Prognostic Factors for Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma and Tumour Thrombus: A Review. SM J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;2(1):1008.