Prognostic Value of the Lung Immune Prognostic Index on Recurrence after Radical Surgery for High-Risk Renal Cell Carcinoma.

With emerging options in immediate postoperative settings for high-risk renal cell carcinoma (hrRCC), further risk stratification may be relevant for informed decision making. Balancing the benefits and drawbacks of adjuvant immunotherapy is recommended. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) in this setting. This bi-institutional retrospective study recruited 235 patients who underwent radical surgery for hrRCC between 2004 and 2021. LIPI scores were calculated based on the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase levels. The association between LIPI scores and local or distant recurrence was analyzed, along with other possible clinical factors. The median recurrence-free survival (RFS) period was 36.4 months. Based on the LIPI scores, 119, 91, and 25 patients were allocated to the good, intermediate, and poor groups, respectively. The RFS was significantly correlated with the LIPI scores, and the 36 month survival rates were 67.3, 36.2, and 11.0% in the good, intermediate, and poor groups, respectively. In the multivariate model, the LIPI independently predicted the RFS, along with symptoms at diagnosis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, pT status, pN status, and tumor grade. The C-index of the LIPI in predicting RFS was 0.63, and prediction accuracy improved with the addition of the LIPI to both GRade, Age, Nodes, Tumor, and the UCLA Integrated Staging System. Conclusively, the LIPI can be a significant prognostic biomarker for predicting hrRCC recurrence, particularly for identifying the highest-risk cohort.

Predicting Recurrence After Radical Surgery for High-Risk Renal Cell Carcinoma: Development and Internal Validation of the "TOWARDS" Score.

BACKGROUND: Considering the reported greater benefits of immunotherapy and its unignorable adverse events in adjuvant therapy for high-risk renal cell carcinoma (hrRCC), accurate prediction may optimize drug use. METHODS: The primary objective of this study was to generate a score-based prognostic model of recurrence-free survival in hrRCC. The study retrospectively evaluated 456 patients at two institutions who underwent radical surgery for nonmetastatic pT3-4 and/or N1-2 or pT2 and G4 disease. Clinical variables deemed universally available were selected through backward stepwise analysis and fitted by a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. A point-based score was derived from regression coefficients. Discrimination, calibration, and decision curve analyses were conducted to evaluate predictive performance. Internal validation with bootstrapping was performed to correct for optimism. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 55.3 months, and the median follow-up period was 28.0 months. During the follow-up period, the recurrence rate was 48.2% (n = 220) during a median of 75.7 months. Stepwise variable selection retained age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, presence or absence of symptoms, size of the primary tumor, pathologic T stage, pathologic N stage, tumor grade, and histology. Subsequently, the TOWARDS score (range 0-53) was developed from these variables. Internal validation showed an optimism-corrected C-index of 0.723 and a calibration slope of 0.834. The decision curve analysis showed the superiority of this score over the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Integrated Staging System and GRade, Age, Nodes, and Tumor score. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' novel TOWARDS scoring model had good accuracy for predicting disease recurrence in patients with hrRCC, and the clinical practicability was superior to that of the existing models.

Effects of remote ischemic preconditioning on renal protection in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

We aimed to evaluate the renoprotective effects of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Data from 59 patients with solitary renal tumors who underwent RAPN with RIPC comprising three cycles of 5-min inflation to 200 mmHg of a blood pressure cuff applied to one lower limb followed by 5-min reperfusion by cuff deflation, from 2018 to 2020 were analyzed. Patients who underwent RAPN for solitary renal tumors without RIPC between 2018 and 2020 were selected as controls. The postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at the nadir during hospitalization and the percentage change from baseline were compared using propensity score matching analysis. We performed a sensitivity analysis with imputations for missing postoperative renal function data weighted by the inverse probability of the data being observed. Of the 59 patients with RIPC and 482 patients without RIPC, 53 each were matched based on propensity scores. No significant differences in the postoperative eGFR in mL/min/1.73 m2 at nadir (mean difference 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] - 2.8 to 10.4) and its percentage change from baseline (mean difference 4.7; 95% CI - 1.6 to 11.1) were observed between the two groups. Sensitivity analysis also indicated no significant differences. No complications were associated with the RIPC. In conclusion, we found no significant evidence of the protective effect of RIPC against renal dysfunction after RAPN. Further research is required to determine whether specific patient subgroups benefit from RIPC.Trial registration number: UMIN000030305 (December 8, 2017).

Association between lung immune prognostic index and survival of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Lung immune prognostic index score (LIPI), calculated using the derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase level, is reported for use in numerous malignancies, while its role on metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) treated with pembrolizumab remains limited. We aimed to investigate association between LIPI and outcomes in this setting. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 90 patients with mUC treated with pembrolizumab at four institutions. The associations between three LIPI groups and progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rates (ORRs) or disease control rates (DCRs) were assessed. RESULTS: Based on the LIPI, good, intermediate, and poor groups were observed in 41 (45.6%), 33 (36.7%), and 16 (17.8%) patients, respectively. The PFS and OS were significantly correlated with the LIPI (median PFS: 21.2 vs. 7.0 vs. 4.0 months, p = 0.001; OS: 44.3 vs. 15.0 vs. 4.2 months, p < 0.001 in the LIPI good vs. intermediate vs. poor groups). Multivariable analysis further revealed that LIPI good (vs. intermediate or poor, hazard ratio: 0.44, p = 0.004) and performance status = 0 (p = 0.015) were independent predictors of a longer PFS. In addition, LIPI good (hazard ratio: 0.29, p < 0.001) were shown to be associated with a longer OS together with performance status = 0 (p < 0.001). The ORRs tended to be different among patients with Good LIPI compared with Poor, and DCRs were significantly different among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: LIPI, a simple and convenient score, could be a significant prognostic biomarker of OS, PFS, and DCRs for mUC treated with pembrolizumab.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Outcomes in an Asian population of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma and Urothelial Carcinoma Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the impact of body mass index (BMI) on treatment outcomes including survival, tumor response, and adverse events (AEs) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or urothelial carcinoma (UC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in an Asian population. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 309 patients with advanced RCC or UC who received ICIs between September 2016 and July 2021. The patients were divided into high- (i.e., ≥25 kg/m2) and low-BMI (<25 kg/m2) groups according to the BMI at the time of treatment initiation. RESULTS: Overall, 57 patients (18.4%) were classified into the high-BMI group. In RCC patients treated with ICIs as first-line therapy or UC treated with pembrolizumab, progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.309; p = 0.842), overall survival (OS) (p = 0.701; p = 0.983), and objective response rate (ORR) (p = 0.163; p = 0.553) were comparable between the high- and low-BMI groups. In RCC patients treated with nivolumab monotherapy as later-line therapy, OS (p = 0.101) and ORR (p = 0.102) were comparable, but PFS was significantly longer in the high-BMI group (p = 0.0272). Further, multivariate analysis showed that BMI was not an independent factor of PFS or OS in all the treatment groups (any, p>0.05). As for AE profiles, in nivolumab monotherapy, the rate was significantly higher in the high-BMI group (p = 0.0203), whereas in the other two treatments, the rate was comparable. CONCLUSIONS: BMI was not associated with survival or response rates of advanced RCC or UC patients treated with ICIs in an Asian population. AEs might frequently develop in high-BMI patients with RCC in nivolumab monotherapy.

Impact of Warm Ischemia on Acute Kidney Injury After Robotic Partial Nephrectomy Stratified by Baseline Kidney Function.

Objectives: To evaluate the differences in baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD) status in correlations between warm ischemic time (WIT) and acute kidney injury (AKI) or acute/chronic renal function change after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Methods: This study retrospectively recruited 1290 patients from a multi-institutional RAPN database. The patients were grouped into four preoperative CKD categories: CKD Group 1 (CKDG1), CKD Group 2 (CKDG2), CKD Group 3a (CKDG3a), and CKD Group 3b (CKDG3b). The correlation between WIT and the probability of AKI was assessed according to the baseline CKD grade, together with changes in serum creatinine (sCr) at the postoperative maximum and chronic renal function. Results: AKI was not observed in the CKDG1 group. The probability of AKI at WIT = 30 minutes was 5.6% for CKDG2, 8.5% for CKDG3a, and 11.6% for CKDG3b (all p < 0.05). WIT was an independent predictor of AKI occurrence in the multivariate model for these three CKD groups. Significant weak correlations were observed between WIT and sCr change for all four groups, with R2 = 0.22 for CKDG1, R2 = 0.16 for CKDG2, R2 = 0.03 for CKDG3a, and R2 = 0.09 for ≥CKDG3b. For chronic renal function, correlations were significant in CKDG2, CKDG3a, and ≥CKDG3b, yet R2 was considered small in all cases (<0.1). Conclusions: The association between extended WIT and the probability of AKI increased in patients with more severe baseline CKD. The correlation between WIT and renal function was significant, yet clinically modest.

"Thrombus-first" or "thrombus-last" approach for surgical management of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the perioperative outcomes between thrombectomy first then nephrectomy ("thrombus-first") and vice-versa ("thrombus-last") approaches for patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava thrombus. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 130 patients who underwent nephrectomy and thrombectomy at two institutions between 1992 and 2020. The cohort was classified into the thrombus-first and thrombus-last groups according to the techniques used. Outcomes including the operative time, blood loss, and complications, especially the occurrence of intraoperative tumor embolism of pulmonary artery and postoperative pulmonary embolism, were compared. RESULTS: The thrombus-first and thrombus-last groups comprised 48 and 82 patients, respectively. Characteristics such as age, performance status, Charlson Comorbidity Index, renal function, and level of tumour thrombus were comparable between the two groups. Approximately 41% of the patients had distant metastasis. There were four cases (3.1%) of intraoperative tumor embolism, all from the thrombus-last group. Three patients overall (2.3%) experienced pulmonary embolism postoperatively with two in the thrombus-last group (2.4%) and one in the thrombus-first group (2.1%) (P > 0.999). The surgical time (291.0 min vs 369.0 min, P < 0.001) and the blood loss (1323.0 vs 2100.0 mL, P < 0.001) were significantly smaller for the thrombus-first group than for the thrombus-last group. Occurrence of complications was 25.0% and 43.9% in thrombus-first and thrombus-last groups, respectively (P = 0.029), and 8.3% and 23.2% for events graded ≥3 (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: In surgery for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus, performing thrombectomy before nephrectomy may serve to lessen complications, blood loss, and surgical time compared to nephrectomy before thrombectomy.

C-reactive protein kinetics to predict recurrence of high-risk renal cell carcinoma after radical surgery.

BACKGROUND: With new options in adjuvant settings, clinical biomarkers to predict recurrence after radical surgery for high-risk renal cell carcinoma (hrRCC) are in need but are scarcely investigated. We aimed to verify the predictive value of perioperative C-reactive protein (CRP) kinetics on hrRCC recurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 154 patients who underwent radical surgery for hrRCC (≥ pT3 and/or N1-2 and M0) at two institutions. Patients were classified into Normal (< 0.5) and High (≥ 0.5) according to their preoperative serum CRP (mg/dL). The High group were further classified into Normalized (< 0.5 at post) or Non-normalized (≥ 0.5 at post), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was compared between groups. Factors for RFS were further analysed, and Harrell's concordance index (C-index) for the accuracy of predicting RFS was compared with and without the addition of CRP-related variables to pre-existing models. RESULTS: The RFS was significantly shorter in the High (n = 72, 46.8%) compared to the Normal (n = 82, 53.2%) group (9.7 vs. 66.7 months, p < 0.001). Within the High group, Non-normalized (n = 27, 17.5%) patients showed a significantly shorter RFS compared to the Normalized (n = 45, 29.2%) group (6.2 vs. 20.3, p = 0.009). In the multivariable stepwise analysis, CRP kinetics (hazard ratio 2.15, p = 0.029) effectively predicted RFS while baseline CRP fell short of significance. Higher C-index improvement was observed with CRP non-normalization than the baseline value when added to factors in the Karakiewicz and University of California Los Angeles Integrated Staging System models. CONCLUSIONS: CRP kinetics effectively predicted RCC recurrence after surgery and may aid in decision-making for adjuvant systemic therapy.

Surgical outcomes for older patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava thrombus.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the surgical and oncological outcomes of older patients undergoing surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with a tumor in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and those of younger patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 123 patients who underwent surgery for RCC-IVC at two institutions between 2008 and 2019. We classified them into the ≥70 years and the <70 years group, based on their age during surgery. The patients' perioperative outcomes as well as survival (overall survival [OS] and cancer-specific survival [CSS]) were evaluated and compared before and after 1:1 propensity score matching. Sensitivity analyses were performed at age thresholds of 75 and 80 years. RESULTS: The ≥70 and the <70 groups comprised 43 and 80 patients, respectively. Most patients in the ≥70 group demonstrated an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 2 or 3. They were more likely to have a statistically insignificant high (≥3) Charlson Comorbidity index score (16.3 vs. 6.3%) and a lower hemoglobin level (10.4 vs. 11.7 g/dL) than the <70 group. Eighteen (41.9%) and 32 (40.0%) patients had at least one distant metastasis at the time of surgery in the ≥70 and <70 group, respectively. The complication rates (any grade and grade ≥3), the length of hospitalization, readmission rates, and mortality were comparable between the groups, both before and after matching (all, non-specific). There was no statistically significant difference in the OS (median 66.6 vs. not reached [N.R.], P = 0.695) or CSS (N.R. vs. N.R., P = 0.605) between the groups before matching. The OS and CSS results were similar and comparable following matching (both, non-specific). Further, OS and CSS were comparable between the ≥75 and <75 groups, and between the ≥80 and <80 age groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: The surgical outcomes of older patients with RCC-IVC were not inferior to those of younger patients. With careful patient selection, surgery can still be a treatment option.

Association Between Anesthetic Technique and Survival After Radical Nephroureterectomy: A Propensity Score-matching Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Whether anesthesia can affect oncological outcomes in urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract undergoing radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) is not clear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One-hundred an ninety-seven patients who underwent RNU were retrospectively recruited and divided into total intravenous (TIVA, n=90) and volatile inhalation anesthesia (VIA, n=107) groups. A 1:1 propensity score-matching method was employed to minimize selection bias (n=70 each). Cancer-specific (CSS), overall (OS) and metastasis-free (MFS) survival were compared between groups before and after matching. RESULTS: For all survival endpoints, no significant differences were observed between the two study groups, both before (hazard ratio for TIVA: CSS: 0.70, OS: 0.75, MFS: 0.78) and after (hazard ratios for TIV: CSS: 1.21, OS: 0.82, MFS: 0.84) matching. CONCLUSION: With no survival difference observed according to anesthetic technique for RNU, the choice should be based on factors such as accessibility, prevention of side-effects, or costs.

Urinary Tract Infection in Hemodialysis-Dependent End-Stage Renal Disease Patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze urinalysis findings and urinary bacterial culture in hemodialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease patients. The research goal was to understand the proportion, risk factors, and the causative organisms of urinary tract infection in hemodialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2020 and June 2021, this study included 100 hemodialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease patients (50 male patients and 50 female patients). The urine underwent microscopic examination, pyuria was defined as ≥5 white blood cells per high-power field, and urinary bacterial cultures were conducted for patients with pyuria. Bacteriuria was defined as ≥104 colony-forming units/mL in men and ≥105 colony-forming units/mL in women. Daily urine output was investigated by oral listening. Postvoiding residual urine volume was measured. RESULTS: Fifty-six percent of male patients and 30% of female patients had normosthenuria, 24% of male patients and 38% of female patients had pyuria, and 20% of male patients and 32% of female patients had a urinary tract infection. A comparison of normosthenuria and urinary tract infection revealed no statistically significant difference in age, time on dialysis, daily urine output, and postvoiding residual urine volume. The proportion of female patients among those with normosthenuria was 34.8%, whereas the proportion of female patients among those with UTI was 61.5%. Urinary bacterial cultures showed that the major causative organisms were Escherichia coli (45%; 18/40 cultures) and extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (17.5%; 7/40 cultures). CONCLUSION: The incidence of urinary tract infection was higher in female patients than in male patients. The proportion of resistant bacteria as the causative organisms was high in hemodialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease patients. Urinary bacterial culture should be checked while patients are able to void urine.

Efficacy and feasibility of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for octogenarians: comparison with younger counterparts.

To compare short-term functional and surgical outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in patients ≥ 80 years old and their younger counterparts, we retrospectively analyzed 1234 patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. The cohort was classified into three groups (young [< 65, N = 802], old [65-79, N = 376], and very old [≥ 80, N = 56]) based on the age at the time of surgery. The perioperative outcomes, including acute/mid-term renal function, perioperative safety profiles, and trifecta attainment, were compared among the three groups. Preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower in the very old group (49.0 mL/min/1.73 m2), compared to young (71.6) or old (60.9) (all, p < 0.001). The decline in %eGFR at acute kidney injury (young: - 6.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, old: - 6.2, very old: - 5.3; all, p > 0.05) and occurrence of AKI (all, p > 0.05) was comparable among groups. Similarly, change in %eGFR at 6 months was comparable across the three groups (young: - 5.0, old: - 6.3, very old: - 5.0; all, p > 0.05). Operative time and estimated blood loss were smaller in the very old group compared to the young or old groups. Furthermore, there were no differences in trifecta attainment rates among the groups. In the multivariable analyses using the reported possible confounders, age group was not shown to be a significant factor for predicting the renal function outcomes (acute or chronic) or trifecta attainment. Hence, RAPN for patients ≥ 80 years old showed comparable renal function and safety profiles compared to younger counterparts.

New Longitudinal Component of the RENAL Nephrometry Score for Predicting the Operative Complexity in Transperitoneal Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy.

Background: In transperitoneal robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN), an L score of 3 points according to the RENAL nephrometry scoring system does not necessarily denote operative complexity. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the newly defined longitudinal component to analyze the operative complexity of RAPN. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed transperitoneal RAPNs performed by a single experienced surgeon for renal tumors between 2017 and 2020. L component was defined as L'1 for midlocated tumors, L'2 for >50% below the polar line, and L'3 for >50% above the polar line. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to test associations between prolonged console time and preoperative factors. The perioperative outcomes were compared among the three cohorts of L' components using propensity score matching: L'1 vs L'3 and L'1 vs L'2. Results: A total of 220 cases (L'1: 107, L'2: 65, L'3: 48) were analyzed. The median console time was prolonged (>130 minutes) in 55 patients (median 108, interquartile range: 90-130 minutes). Longitudinal location (L'3 odds ratio [OR]: 2.93, p = 0.01; L'2 OR: 2.32, p = 0.04), high Mayo adhesive probability score (p = 0.001), multiple renal arteries (p = 0.03), and large size (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with prolonged console time. After matching, 26 cases of L'1 and L'3 and 43 cases of L'1 and L'2 were selected. Console time (108 minutes vs 132 minutes, p = 0.017) and warm ischemia time (17 minutes vs 22 minutes, p = 0.03) were significantly longer in L'3 than in L'1. The difference in console time between L'1 and L'2 was not statistically significant (100 minutes vs 111 minutes, p = 0.08). Conclusion: In the new longitudinal assessment, upper location predicted prolonged console time compared with a middle or lower location. The L' component may help preoperatively assess operative complexity.

Association between Ureteral Clamping Time and Acute Kidney Injury during Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy.

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is replacing open radical cystectomy (ORC) and requires clamping of the ureters, resulting in a predisposition to postrenal acute kidney injury (AKI). We investigated the association between ureteral clamping or its duration and acute/chronic postoperative kidney function. Patients who underwent radical cystectomy (robotic or open) at two tertiary institutions during 2002-2021 were retrospectively enrolled. In those who underwent RARC, the maximum postoperative percentage serum creatinine level (%sCre) change was plotted against ureteral clamping duration. They were divided into two groups using the median clamping time (210 min), and the maximum %sCre change and percentage estimated glomerular filtration rate (%eGFR) change at 3-6 months (chronic) were compared between the ORC (no clamp), RARC < 210, and RARC ≥ 210 groups. In 44 RARC patients, a weak correlation was observed between the duration of ureteral clamping and %Cre change (R2 = 0.22, p = 0.001). Baseline serum creatinine levels were comparable between the groups. However, %sCre change was significantly larger in the RARC ≥ 210 group (N = 17, +32.1%) than those in the RARC < 210 (N = 27, +6.1%) and ORC (N = 76, +9.5%) groups (both, p < 0.001). Chronic %eGFR change was comparable between the groups. Longer clamping of the ureter during RARC may precipitate AKI; therefore, the clamping duration should be minimized.

Limited impact of warm ischemic threshold for partial nephrectomy in the robotic surgery era: A propensity score matching study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between extended (≥30 min) warm ischemic time and renal function in patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. METHODS: This multi-institutional study retrospectively recruited 1131 patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. Patients were classified into shorter (<30 min; n = 1038) and longer (≥30 min; n = 92) groups based on the ischemic time required, and 1:2 propensity score matching was used to minimize selection bias. The perioperative outcomes, including acute kidney injury and trifecta attainment, and mid/long-term renal function were assessed before and after matching. RESULTS: Patients in the longer group had tumors with a significantly larger diameter and RENAL nephrometry score. The decline in the nadir of the estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly greater in the longer than the shorter group in the unmatched and matched cohorts (-16.2 vs -5.5%, P < 0.001; 15.5 vs -9.5%, P = 0.003, respectively). A higher incidence of acute kidney injury (9.8 vs 2.6%, P = 0.002) was observed in the longer group before matching, whereas the difference was comparable after matching. Before matching, the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate at 6 months postoperatively was greater (-8.2 vs -5.1%, P = 0.005) and trifecta attainment was lower (50.0 vs 63.5%, P < 0.001) in the longer group. However, the differences were comparable for both the parameters between the groups in the matched cohort. CONCLUSIONS: While extended warm ischemia during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy can be demanded in case of large and complex tumors, its impact on postoperative renal function is limited.

Albumin-to-Alkaline Phosphatase Ratio as a Novel Prognostic Marker of Nivolumab Monotherapy for Previously Treated Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The relationship between albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) and the outcome of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors remains unresolved. We aimed to clarify the prognostic role of AAPR in nivolumab monotherapy for previously treated mRCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 60 patients with mRCC treated with nivolumab after failure of at least one molecular targeted therapy. The patients were stratified into two groups based on the baseline AAPR. The threshold of AAPR was determined using receiver-operating characteristics and Youden index analyses. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR) of nivolumab therapy were compared between the high and low AAPR groups. RESULTS: The threshold of AAPR was set at 0.3, and 20 patients (33%) were assigned to the low AAPR group. The median OS and PFS were significantly lower in the low AAPR group than those in the high group (OS: 8.3 months vs. not reached, p<0.0001; PFS: 2.9 vs. 10.4 months, p=0.0006). Moreover, ORR was significantly lower in the low AAPR group than in the high group (16% vs. 45%, p=0.0397). Multivariate analyses further showed that AAPR was an independent factor for OS [HR=0.27 (95% CI=0.09-0.77), p=0.0151] but not for PFS (p=0.174). CONCLUSION: Baseline AAPR was significantly associated with outcome in patients with mRCC receiving nivolumab monotherapy and may, therefore, constitute an effective prognostic factor for nivolumab treatment.