ObjectiveTo describe the impact of a multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients in a locoregional renal cancer network by evaluating shared decision making (SDM) and adherence to MTB recommendations.Design, Setting and ParticipantsThis prospective cohort study included all cases from a Dutch renal cancer network with suspicion of or histologically confirmed RCC discussed in MTBs between 2017-2022. Main endpoints were distribution of cases presented, proportion of recommendations with multiple treatment options enabling shared decision making (SDM), definite treatment after SDM and adherence to MTB recommendations. Further endpoints were definite treatment per tumor stage stratified by age and inclusion in clinical trials. Outcomes were displayed as means and proportions (%). Pearson's Chi-Squared test was used to analyze the effect of age on definite treatment advice.ResultsOverall, 2651 cases were discussed, of which 1900 (72%) were new referrals and 751 (28%) rediscussions. Majority of cases were cT1a-b tumors (46%) and 22% were local recurrences or metachronous metastatic. Adherence to MTB recommendation was 96% and in 30% multiple treatment options were recommended, allowing for SDM. In 45% of cases with cT1a tumors multiple treatment options were recommended by the MTB, resulting in (cryo)ablation (32%) and AS (30%) as most frequent definite treatments after SDM. Among patients with cT3-4 tumors the inclusion rate in clinical trials was 47%.ConclusionsA network MTB creates opportunity to discuss multiple treatment options and clinical trials in SDM with patients at a high rate of adherence to MTB recommendation.
Objectives: To determine the rate of benign pathology in cT1 tumors following partial nephrectomy in the Netherlands, thereby evaluating the rate of overtreatment. Methods: Data were collected from a nationwide database containing histopathology of resected renal tissue from 2014 to 2022. Patients who underwent partial nephrectomy for suspected RCC staged T1a-b were extracted for analysis. Data are shown in percentages, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine predictive factors for benign pathology. Results: 3409 cases were analyzed, of which 403 (12%) were benign and 3006 (88%) malignant. Subtype analysis showed 2126 (62%) cases of clear-cell RCC, followed by 604 (18%) of papillary RCC and 344 (10%) oncocytomas. Mean age was 63 years among patients with malignant pathology versus 65 years for patients with benign lesions (p < 0.001). Mean tumor size was 3.2 cm for malignant pathology and 2.9 cm for benign (p < 0.001). The rates of benign and malignant pathology did not change between 2014 and 2022 (p = 0.377). Multivariable regression showed age ≥ 65 years (65–79 years [OR 1.881, p = 0.002], ≥ 80 years [OR 3.642, p < 0.001]) and tumor size (OR 0.793, p < 0.001) as predictors for benign pathology. The main limitation of this study is that we do not know the biopsy rate of our cohort. Conclusion: This study reports a low rate of 12% benign pathology after partial nephrectomy in the Netherlands. It remains debatable whether these rates are acceptable, or if renal tumor biopsies should be utilized more frequently to reduce overtreatment.
Objectives To describe the prostate cancer (PCa) detection rate, including clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), in a large cohort of patients who underwent transperineal ultrasonography‐guided systematic prostate biopsy (TPB‐US) using a probe‐mounted transperineal access system, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cognitive fusion in case of a Prostate Imaging–Reporting and Data System grade 3–5 lesion, under local anaesthesia in an outpatient setting. Additionally, to compare the incidence of procedure‐related complications with a cohort of patients undergoing transrectal ultrasonography‐guided (TRB‐US) and transrectal MRI‐guided biopsies (TRB‐MRI). Patients and Methods This was an observational cohort study in men who underwent TPB‐US prostate biopsy in a large teaching hospital. For each participant, prostate‐specific antigen level, clinical tumour stage, prostate volume, MRI parameters, number of (targeted) prostate biopsies, biopsy International Society of Uropathology (ISUP) grade and procedure‐related complications were assessed. csPCa was defined as ISUP grade ≥2. Antibiotic prophylaxis was only given in those with an increased risk of urinary tract infection. Results A total of 1288 TPB‐US procedures were evaluated. The overall detection rate for PCa in biopsy‐naive patients was 73%, and for csPCa it was 63%. The incidence of hospitalization was 1% in TPB‐US (13/1288), compared to 4% in TRB‐US (8/214) and 3% in TRB‐MRI (7/219; P = 0.002). Conclusions Contemporary combined systematic and target TPB‐US with MRI cognitive fusion is easy to perform in an outpatient setting, with a high detection rate of csPCa and a low incidence of procedure‐related complications.
Objectives:To analyse variation in clinical management of cT1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the Netherlands related to surgical hospital volume (HV). Materials and methods:Patients diagnosed with cT1 RCC during 2014-2020 were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patient and tumour characteristics were retrieved. Hospitals performing kidney cancer surgery were categorised by annual HV as low (HV < 25), medium (HV = 25-49) and high (HV > 50). Trends over time in nephron-sparing strategies for cT1a and cT1b were evaluated. Patient, tumour and treatment characteristics of (partial) nephrectomies were compared by HV. Variation in applied treatment was studied by HV. Results:Between 2014 and 2020, 10 964 patients were diagnosed with cT1 RCC. Over time, a clear increase in nephron-sparing management was observed. The majority of cT1a underwent a partial nephrectomy (PN), although less PNs were applied over time (from 48% in 2014 to 41% in 2020). Active surveillance (AS) was increasingly applied (from 18% to 32%). For cT1a, 85% received nephron-sparing management in all HV categories, either with AS, PN or focal therapy (FT). For T1b, radical nephrectomy (RN) remained the most common treatment (from 57% to 50%). Patients in high-volume hospitals underwent more often PN (35%) for T1b compared with medium HV (28%) and low HV (19%). Conclusion:HV is related to variation in the management of cT1 RCC in the Netherlands. The EAU guidelines have recommended PN as preferred treatment for cT1 RCC. In most patients with cT1a, nephron-sparing management was applied in all HV categories, although differences in applied strategy were found and PN was more frequently used in high HV. For T1b, high HV was associated with less appliance of RN, whereas PN was increasingly used. Therefore, closer guideline adherence was found in high-volume hospitals.
Surgery is currently the only curative treatment of locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Despite surgical resection, intermediate- to high-risk patients still can develop disease recurrence or systemic progression. These patients may benefit from adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment options. Based on promising results in metastatic disease, immune checkpoint inhibition could be a good therapeutic strategy for the perioperative setting. Preclinical data and early clinical studies in melanoma suggest a greater efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy compared to the adjuvant approach. This trial was designed to treat RCC patients who are at risk for recurrence or distant metastases with different neoadjuvant immunotherapy combinations to obtain the most efficacious and least toxic treatment option for this setting. This randomized, open-label, three-arm phase 2 trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant nivolumab alone or in combination in intermediate- to high-risk non-metastatic clear cell RCC using an adaptive trial design. A maximum number of 69 patients will be randomized to receive either 2 courses nivolumab 360 mg, 2 courses ipilimumab 1 mg/kg + nivolumab 3 mg/kg or 2 courses of nivolumab 360 mg + relatlimab 360 mg every three weeks prior to surgery. The primary endpoint is pathologic response rate defined as the proportion of patients demonstrating a complete or partial pathologic response. Secondary endpoints include safety, objective response rate, recurrence-free survival, event-free survival, rate of distant metastases and local recurrences and surgical morbidity. Blood samples, pretreatment biopsies and post-treatment tumor tissue will be collected for translational research. After 42 patients have been recruited (14 per arm), an interim analysis will be performed to evaluate the observed efficacy and toxicity within each arm and either allow for early discontinuation or continuing recruitment in the second stage of a Simon's two stage design. The first patient was enrolled in April 2022. NCT05148546, Registered December 8, 2021. NKI-AVL - Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital. Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS).