Presurgical targeted molecular therapy in renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of presurgical TMT on the heights and levels of inferior vena cava(IVC)thrombi,and to assess its impact on surgical strategy.Methods We retrospectively reviewed data of 18 patients with renal cell carcinoma(RCC)involving IVC tumor thrombi who were treated at our hospital with presurgical TMT followed by an IVC thrombectomy.Data from 18 patients(16 men and 2 women)were included in the analysis.The median age was 53.5 years(range33-75 years),and the mean BMI was 24.7kg/m2(rrange18.1 -30.4 kg/m2).4 cases of tumors located in the left kidney,14 cases were right.The changes in heights and levels of the IVC thrombi were compared using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.The IVC tumor thrombus level was evaluated according to the Mayo classification.Results The tumor thrombus levels before TMT were stage Ⅰ in 1 patient,Ⅱ in 1 2 patients,Ⅲ in 4 patients,and Ⅳ in 1 patient.The presurgical TMT was sorafenib in 6 patients(33.3%),sunitinib in 9(50.0%),and axitinib in 3(16.7%).After a median of 2 treatment cycles(range1-6 cycles),three patients experienced grade 3 adverse events.One patient stopped treatment after 6 weeks owing to intolerable skin reactions and difficulty walking.The tumor thrombus height decreased measurably in 11 patients(61.1%).The thrombus height remained stable in 5 patients(27.8%)and was enlarged in 2(11.1%).The median reduction of tumor thrombus height was -0.53 cm (range-4.23 to 1.21 cm).The median change in the maximum diameter of the thrombus was -0.30 cm (range-1.23 to 0.29 cm).Down-staging of the thrombus level occurred in 4 patients(22.2%);the surgical strategy was modified in 3 patients(level≥Ⅲ)to avoid cardiopulmonary bypass and complicated liver mobilization under robot-assisted laparoscopy.Conclusions Our data suggest a limited influence of presurgical TMT,with a positive benefit in RCC patients with level Ⅲ and Ⅳ thrombus.Thrombus-level regression may potentially alter the surgical strategy,especially robotic surgery.Additionally,preoperative targeted therapy did not significantly increase perioperative mortality and risk of serious complications.